GE gas dryer making noise — the blower wheel was loose on the motor shaft — Englewood, NJ
Not every noisy dryer is a drum roller. This one was the blower, and nothing on the outside of the machine tells you which of the two you have.
- Appliance
- Gas dryer
- Brand
- GE
- Location
- Englewood, NJ
- Symptom
- Noise that had not been there before, getting worse
- Cause
- The blower wheel’s plastic hub had cracked with age; the wheel was loose on the motor shaft
- Repair
- Blower replaced, cabinet cleaned out, remaining components checked
The call
The call was about noise. The dryer had started making a sound it had never made before, and it was getting worse rather than settling down.
What we found
The first guess with a noisy dryer is usually the drum rollers, and often that guess is right. Not this time.
The noise was the blower — the fan that pulls air through the drum and pushes it out to the vent. Its wheel is moulded plastic and sits on the end of the motor shaft. On this machine the plastic hub had cracked: split into pieces around the shaft, so the wheel was no longer held tight. Spinning, it wobbled, and that was the sound.
The distinction matters more than it sounds. A drum roller is a wear part that goes on a rough schedule. A cracked blower hub is plastic that has simply aged out. From the outside of the machine the two are indistinguishable, which is the whole reason the visit is worth making rather than guessing at a part.
The second thing we found was a thick blanket of lint throughout the inside of the cabinet. Not in the vent duct outside — inside the machine, on everything. This one is a gas dryer, which is why lint does not get left where it is found.
The fix
The blower was replaced. Then the cabinet was cleaned out properly and the rest of the components were checked while it was open.
The last photograph on this page is the one worth looking at. That is the inside of the dryer with the work finished. Most people have never seen the inside of their own dryer in any state, and it is useful to know what it is supposed to look like.
The standing recommendation on a machine of this age: have it opened and cleaned inside about once a year. Lint does not only go down the vent. It settles on everything in there, and it is what turns a part that was going to last another winter into a call-out in January.
Seeing the same thing?
If your appliance is behaving this way, we can usually tell you what's happening on the first visit. Every call starts with a $110 diagnostic — sales tax included — that's credited toward the repair.
More on Washer & Dryer Repair and appliance repair in Englewood.
Call (551) 255-3689Factory-authorized for Speed Queen and Z-Line — experienced across every major brand
Speed Queen and Z-Line repairs are done under manufacturer authorization. Everything else is backed by 21 years of hands-on experience on these machines.
Factory-Authorized: Speed Queen & Z-Line
For these two brands we are an authorized service provider — repairs done to manufacturer standard that keep your warranty intact.
Brands we service every day
From everyday household names to high-end built-ins, outdoor kitchens and commercial equipment — the same list everywhere we work, backed by 21 years of hands-on experience.
We also work directly with Liberty Home Guard and New Leaf on covered home-warranty claims.
Tell us what's going on
Leave your details and describe the problem. We'll call you back to book a visit — every repair starts with a $110 diagnostic that's credited toward the fix.