🧹 Maintenance

Dryer Belt Replacement — Step-by-Step Video & Photos

🚨 🔌 Before You Start — Electric Safety

Unplug your dryer from the wall outlet before opening the cabinet or touching any internal parts. Electric dryers use 240V which can be fatal. If your dryer is hardwired, turn off the circuit breaker for the dryer circuit at your electrical panel.

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In a Hurry? Here’s the Answer

Video: Search YouTube for your model + “belt replacement”. Time: 15-25 minutes. Cost: $15-$30. Steps: Unplug → Remove back panel → Release tensioner → Slide old belt off → Thread new belt → Re-tension → Test.

Full Guide

Signs It’s the Belt

  • Motor hums but drum doesn’t spin
  • Loud thumping noise
  • Burning rubber smell (belt slipping)

Watch Before Starting

Watch a YouTube video first! Search “[your brand] [model number] dryer belt replacement” — there’s a video for almost every model. Visual guidance is infinitely better than text.

Basic Steps

  1. Unplug the dryer
  2. Remove the front panel (most models: 2 screws at bottom, pry open with putty knife)
  3. Look at the drum area — you’ll see the belt going around the drum and through a tensioner pulley
  4. Release the tensioner — pull the idler pulley away, belt loosens
  5. Slide the old belt off — careful not to damage the drum felt seal
  6. Install the new belt — ribbed side IN against the drum, smooth side out
  7. Thread through the tensioner — consult the video for the exact routing (it varies by brand)
  8. Reassemble panel
  9. Test — run on Air Fluff for 2 minutes, listen for unusual noises

Belt Routing (Common Brands)

BrandRouting Tip
Whirlpool/KenmoreBelt goes under idler, over motor pulley
Maytag/Pool KingBelt goes through idler arm
LG/SamsungFollow diagram inside back panel
GETensioner is a spring-loaded arm

Safety Note

Never force the belt — if it doesn’t fit, you have the wrong part. Check the part number matches your exact model. A stretched belt will cause slipping and drum damage.

Safety First

Before working on your dryer:

🔌 Unplug it or turn off the circuit breaker. Electric dryers use 240V — that’s dangerous.

🔥 Never work on a gas line or burner assembly — call a licensed HVAC tech.

🧤 Wear gloves when reaching into metal cabinets — edges are sharp.

🔦 Grab a flashlight — dryer cabinets are dark inside.

Tools You Might Need

  • Phillips-head and flathead screwdrivers
  • Putty knife or old credit card (for prying)
  • Multimeter (for electrical tests — $15-$25 on Amazon)
  • Drill with socket set (for some models)
  • Cleaning brush kit (for vents)
  • Vacuum with crevice attachment

Still Stuck?

Search YouTube for “dryer belt replacement [your dryer brand]” — there’s almost certainly a walkthrough video for your exact model. Appliance repair YouTubers are an underrated resource.

Last verified: October 2026. Always confirm parts compatibility with your exact model number.

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