Whirlpool's own article on dryer noises names six sounds and what each means, which makes the WED9620 easy to sort. A click from a gas valve is normal, but this is an electric model. A light thump in the first few minutes after the dryer has sat unused comes from flattened drum rollers and fades. Repeated thumping is a balled-up load or tennis shoes. Pounding is a missing leg or unlevel floor, scraping is a coin or pin caught in the drum seam, and knocking or rattling is zippers, buckles or coins in the load, or something on top of the dryer.
Differential
Likely causes of “Whirlpool dryer makes squealing, thumping, scraping or rattling noises”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Drum support rollers flattened by non-use
What separates it A light thumping for the first few minutes of a cycle that fades
How to confirm Let the dryer run; the rollers regain their shape and the sound stops
- 2
A balled-up load such as sheets, curtains or tablecloths
What separates it There is a rhythmic thump and vibration during the cycle because of a balled up load such as sheets, curtains or table cloths
How to confirm Add large items loosely and shake out bunching from the washer
- 3
A missing leg or unlevel floor
What separates it The dryer rocks or teeters and pounds when the drum turns
How to confirm Replace any missing leg and level the dryer front-to-back and side-to-side
- 4
A coin, pin or screw caught in the drum seam or hard items in the load
What separates it Scraping at the seam, or knocking and rattling from zippers, buckles and buttons
How to confirm Turn the dryer off, check the front and rear edges of the drum and clear pockets
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the sound is clicking, thumping, pounding, scraping or rattling
- Whether it happens at the start only, or all through the cycle
- Whether the dryer rocks when you press on the top corners
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedIdentify the sound
ReversibleWhirlpool's article groups noises: clicking, thumping, pounding, scraping and knocking or rattling. Match yours, because each has a different cause and a different fix.
Check the load
ReversibleTwisted or balled loads thump. Add sheets, curtains and bedspreads loosely and remove bunching from the wash. Do not tumble tennis shoes; use a dry rack instead.
Level the dryer
ReversibleCheck that all four legs are present and touching the floor, and adjust them so the dryer is level front-to-back and side-to-side. Whirlpool says a level dryer is also needed for the sensing of load moisture in the cycles.
Look at the drum seam
ReversibleWith the dryer off, look along the front and rear edges of the drum for coins, paper clips, safety pins, screws or nails caught where the drum meets the front or rear, and remove them.
Clear the top and the sides
ReversibleRemove objects from the top of the dryer, leave space between the washer and dryer so washer spin does not vibrate the cabinet, and on a pedestal check the drawer for loose items.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Noise sources by position
- Whirlpool separates noise from the load (thump, rattle), from the installation (pounding on an unlevel floor, pedestal drawer contents, washer vibration through the cabinet) and from the drum (rollers flattened by non-use, objects at the seam). Only the last kind needs the dryer to be stopped and inspected.
- Parts for this problem on the WED9620 (RepairClinic, 2026-09-21)
- motor pulley, 60 hertz, part number WP8066184, at $40.94; dryer drum drive belt, 93 1/2 inches long, 4 rib, part number 661570V, at $28.38.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models WED8620, WED6605, WED5605, WED5050, WGD9620, WGD5050, WHD560CHW.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a scraping or grinding sound continues with an empty drum, stop using the dryer and contact Whirlpool service
- !If the sound comes with a burning smell, follow the burning-smell page
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Whirlpool's own help articles for its dryers, each; the article for this page is named in the page's notes.
Whirlpool's own product-assistance articles for dryers, including the Dryer Vent Testing Kit (part W11224254).
Whirlpool's own page for this model, listing its manuals and guides and the accessories sold for it.
Whirlpool's quick start guide for its dryers: Start/Pause held for 1 second, sensor and timed cycles, Wrinkle Shield, Static Reduce and Mute Cycle Signal.
Parts and list prices as shown on RepairClinic's parts search for this model number on 2026-09-21.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my dryer thump when I first start it?+
If the dryer has not been used for a while the drum support rollers can flatten where they touch the drum. Once it runs for a while they regain their shape.
Is clicking normal on this electric dryer?+
The click Whirlpool calls normal is a gas valve on gas dryers. On an electric model, note when the click occurs and check the load and the door.
Why does it pound?+
A missing leg or a floor that is not level lets the dryer rock. Replace the leg and level it.
What causes scraping?+
Coins, pins, screws or nails caught in the seam where the drum meets the front or rear.
Can tennis shoes damage the dryer?+
They make it shake and vibrate. Whirlpool suggests a dry rack.
Can the washer make the dryer noisy?+
Yes. When the washer spins it can vibrate the dryer cabinet, so leave a gap.
Do zippers rattle?+
Yes. Zippers, buckles, buttons and rivets rattle as they tumble; turn garments inside out or close zippers.