An LG dryer that squeals or thumps while the drum turns is telling you a part that carries weight or drives the drum is wearing. The sound is the useful clue: it changes depending on which part is failing.
What the sound suggests
- Rhythmic thump, once per turn. Often a flat spot or a worn roller or support under the drum, or an item stuck against the drum edge.
- High squeal that rises with speed. Often a dry roller, idler pulley or motor bearing.
- Scraping or grinding. A worn drum glide or something hard inside the cabinet, such as a coin or an underwire.
- Noise that stops when the drum is empty. Worth noting, as weight-related noise points at supports.
Checks before the call
Empty the dryer and run it for a minute with nothing inside. Check the lint trap slot and drum edges for a trapped sock or a coin. Make sure the dryer sits level; a rocking cabinet adds its own thump. Do not keep running a loud dryer for days, because a worn roller can score the drum and a failing belt can stop mid-cycle.
What cannot be decided from the noise alone
Sounds travel through the cabinet, so a squeal near the back may come from a pulley near the front. Houston humidity can also dry out lubricant over time, but that is general and does not tell us which part. We open the unit, spin the drum by hand and check each roller and the belt, then give you the finding before work starts.
If the drum turns by hand with a rough or stuck feel, stop using the dryer and unplug it.
Details are on the dryer repair page. Choose a three-hour window and confirm your address in the service area. We give a written price first, and repairs carry a 30-day workmanship warranty.