Hi Melissa, that squeal when your Whirlpool WED6120HC1 starts tumbling is a very common dryer noise, and the fix is cheap. The sound usually isn’t the belt itself. It’s one of the parts the belt runs on.
What usually makes the squeal
- Idler pulley (most common). This small wheel on a spring arm keeps the belt tight. When its bearing gets dry, it squeals, and it’s loudest right when the dryer starts.
- Drum rollers. The drum rides on rollers at the back. Worn rollers squeak or thump as the drum turns.
- A worn, shiny belt. An old belt can get smooth and glazed and slip on the motor pulley for a second at start-up, which also makes a squeal.
How to tell which one
Unplug the dryer. Open it up and slide the belt off the motor and idler. Then:
- Spin the idler pulley by hand. It should turn smoothly and quietly. If it’s rough, wobbly or squeaks, that’s your noise.
- Turn the drum by hand. If it scrapes or squeaks without the belt, the rollers are worn.
- Look at the belt. Cracks, fraying or a shiny underside mean it’s time for a new one.
My advice
Since you’ll have it open anyway, buy a roller and idler kit with a new belt for your model. It costs around $30–50 in parts and takes care of all three at once, which gives you years of quiet drying from a 4–7-year-old dryer. Don’t oil the parts: it collects lint and the squeal comes back quickly.
While the panel is off, vacuum the lint out of the cabinet too. If you have any questions during the repair, let us know.