[njitgrad]

My Whirlpool gas dryer (age unknown) works fine and does the job but it makes a really annoying rattling sound only during the first few minutes of operation. Is there a way to fix this or do I need to schedule an appointment with a Whirlpool tech?

 

[jmon]

Could just be something simple like loose change, pins, buttons, etc.

Type your model number in the appliance411 and find out the age. Click on link. If you find out it's really old, I wouldn't stick too much money into it fixing it up or calling out a tech. You can get a brand new one at any sears, or big box stores for 250 dollars on up depending on your budget.

Then go to repairclinic.com and type your model number in there for top 5 reasons. Click on link.

Hope you get it figured out soon.

http://www.appliance411.com/service/date-code.php

http://www.repairclinic.com/

 

[DexterII]

I'd wiggle it a bit to see if all four feet are setting firmly on the floor. Seems plausible to me that one of them could be a little high or low, causing it to shake a little, then accentuated through the duct, and balancing itself out once the loose clothes have been spun into place.

 

[firehawkmph]

I've had a few machines where the idler wheel on the drive belt would wear a burr on the metal shaft causing it to bind. It's mounted on a spring loaded arm, so every time it bound up for just a fraction of a second, it would cause the arm to jump and make a rattling noise. You can either replace the idler wheel if it's really worn, or check the steel shaft carefully and lightly file off any burr then polish it up with some very fine sandpaper. Not that hard to get to usually.
Mike Hawkins:smile:

 

[njitgrad]

This happens every time it's turned on "cold". I have to experiment and see if it even when operation of the dryer has been temporarily stopped.

Perhaps a YouTube video is in the making so you can get a better idea of the issue.