Tumble dryer making a loud squealing or grinding noise (Hoover & Candy)
✅ Safe to check yourself
This is a common, low-risk check most people can do safely. Always unplug the appliance (or isolate power) before touching internal parts.
Quick TipTake a photo of the appliance's model/serial number sticker now — you'll want it if this does end up needing a part or an engineer.
A high-pitched squeal or rhythmic grinding as the drum turns is one of the most common tumble dryer complaints, and while it’s rarely a same-day DIY fix, it’s easy to identify the likely cause before calling anyone.
What to check first
- Empty the drum completely and check for anything caught between the drum and the door seal or drum glides — a stray coin, zip, or underwire can cause an intermittent scraping noise that sounds worse than it is.
- Note when the noise happens: constantly as the drum turns (points to drum support rollers, bearings, or glides), or only during heating (points to the fan or blower housing).
- Check the lint filter and door seal for a build-up of fluff that might be catching on the drum edge as it rotates.
When to call an engineer
A squeal that’s constant and drum-related is very often worn drum support rollers or a slipping/worn drive belt — both routine, inexpensive parts for an engineer to replace, and worth doing before the belt fails completely and the drum stops turning altogether. This involves partially dismantling the drum housing, so it’s not a casual DIY job even though the parts themselves are cheap.