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Gas Dryer Whistling Sound | 3 Things to Check

Dryers are noisy enough; I don’t need mine whistling while it works! If your gas dryer is trying to serenade you when the heat cycles on, there is likely a problem specifically with the gas components in the dryer—you don’t get whistling with an electric model. So, let’s look at how to check the burner and valves.


If a gas dryer is whistling, the issue originates from the gas burner assembly. When dirt gets into the air shutter, burner bar holes, and gas valves, it reduces the size of the opening. Air and gas passing through do so at a greater pressure, and a whistle is produced. Damage can also reduce the aperture.

The Whistling Is Coming From Your Burner Assembly

In general, if your gas dryer is producing a high-pitched whistling noise when the gas is on, it is indicative of a problem within the gas burner assembly. This assembly is at the bottom of your dryer, below the drum.

Gas-Assembly-of-a-gas-dryer-flame-sensor-gas-coils-ignitor-burner-bar-air-shutter-and-gas-shutoff-valve

To get to the assembly, you need to take your dryer apart by following these steps:

  1. Unplug the dryer from the outlet receptacle.
  2. Shut off the gas to the machine using the valve on the pipe at the back of the dryer.
  3. Remove the lint filter from the lid OR from the front panel behind the door.
  4. If your lint filter is in the lid, remove the screws inside the filter compartment.
  5. You will need a tool like a putty knife (amazon link) to open the lid. Wedge the tool in at the front corners of the lid to open the clips, allowing you to raise the lid.
  6. Remove the screws that fasten the top of the front panel in place, and lift the panel away from the clips at the bottom.
  7. Move the front panel to the side, with the door sensor connected or disconnected from its wire harness.
  8. Reach down the side of the drum and unhook the dryer belt from the driver and idler pulley.
  9. Lift the drum out of the dryer using the belt and set it aside.

Now that the drum is out, you have access to the gas assembly to investigate and stop the whistling. The assembly is a metal tube with piping and wires connected to it and includes the flame sensor, burner, solenoid coils, gas valve assembly, and ignitor.

3 Things to Check in the Burner Assembly

1. Is There a Buildup of Dirt?

Once you get near the gas burner assembly, you might immediately note a buildup of dust and lint.

Even though you might think of the dryer as a closed unit, it has gaps and openings where dust can enter. That stuff gets everywhere, especially if there is a nearby construction site or you live in a less built-up area.

Aside from the fire hazard of lint and dust near the burner and blower, it might gather on the burner bar and cover some of the holes (that release gas into the burner housing) or block the air shutter.

Reducing the openings in the gas line through the dryer means that pressurized gas squeezes through less space than intended.

If you have ever seen a whistling kettle, you know that the narrow opening on the whistle cap is vital to creating the sound that doesn’t happen if the whole spout is venting steam.

The same goes for air passing through clogged air shutters.

Part of keeping the majority of lint out of your dryer casing comes from regular cleaning and replacing of your lint filter.

When this fills, it can become overwhelmed and unable to filter the fibers out of the machine correctly. It also won’t work properly if damaged, so make sure to inspect the filter regularly.

The other step to take is to clean the dryer out more regularly. Every few months, open up your dryer and vacuum and brush out any dirt and lint so that it can’t cause this problem again.

2. Is There Sediment Buildup in the Gas Coils?

There might be sediment gathering in the gas coils from dirt that gets into wet gas pipes as they are installed. This can create blockages in the gas valves and burner.

Dirt can build in the burner bar, which has rows of small holes that allow gas into the burner housing, and in the gas valves on either side of the gas coils.

The sediment is deposited as the gas changes direction to exit the burner holes, and the valves offer a space for dirt to catch and collect.

The dirt can stop up the openings of the bar and the valves, reducing the size of these openings. The valves might be blocked from opening properly as well. The pressure of the gas being forced through the reduced apertures creates the whistle. Again, like a whistling kettle.

You have to clean out the dirt to stop the whistling. However, you also have to address the bigger issue: why is there dirt? The answer is likely a full or missing sediment trap.

A sediment trap is supposed to prevent this problem. However, if this is missing, it cannot trap dirt coming through the wet gas pipes before it gets into the appliance.

These traps should also be checked every few years to empty out any sediment. The trap cannot properly remove sediment traveling with the gas if it is full. Instead, it might allow the gas to pick up sediment just as it enters your dryer.

3. Are There Faulty/Worn/Broken Parts?

You might also be dealing with a bad air shutter or gas valve. While these aren’t the only parts that can fail, they are the ones associated with a whistling sound.

You may notice obvious signs like the valves being stuck in a certain position or being warped, bent, or cracked.

In addition, you can check the wires for the valves for physical damage. All this clearly shows you that the part is compromised and the likely cause of your whistling problem.

If you see no red flags, it might be an electrical problem in the components, which you can test.

Disconnecting the wires from the valves will allow you to test the resistance (ohms) of their terminals using a multimeter, like this AstroAI device (amazon link). If you don’t get a resistance reading, you will need to replace the broken valves.

AstroAI Multimeter 2000 Counts Digital Multimeter with DC AC Voltmeter and Ohm Volt Amp Tester ; Measures Voltage, Current, Resistance; Tests Live Wire, Continuity

To stop the whistling in these cases, you will need to replace the damaged part entirely. You should hire a certified electrician to take care of any wiring problems from the actual machine.

When your gas dryer sounds like a blowtorch, it also indicates an issue with the gas valve.

Dryer Noise Troubleshooting Guide (All Noises Covered!)

Sources

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/long-flame-stay-gas-dryer-84298.html

https://www.thespruce.com/troubleshooting-gas-clothes-dryer-problems-2147294

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