Hot take: I thought those cheap universal dryer belts were a total waste of money

For the longest time, I wouldn't touch those $8 universal dryer belts you see at the big box stores. I figured they were junk that would snap in a month. Then I got a call for a 15-year-old Whirlpool dryer in a rental unit. The tenant needed it fixed fast and the owner wanted the cheapest possible fix. I grabbed a universal belt as a last resort. I was sure it would be a callback, but that was six months ago and the owner just called me for a different machine, saying the dryer is still running fine. I've used them on three other basic models since with no issues. I'm not saying they're great for every job, but for an old unit on a tight budget, they can actually work. Has anyone else had a decent run with these, or did I just get lucky?

3 comments

3 Comments

mary_nelson7129d ago

Yeah, they can be a solid stopgap. I've found they work best on those simple, older models without a lot of fancy cycles. It really comes down to managing expectations for a cheap, temporary fix.

the_piper28d agoMost Upvoted

But what if the cheap fix just makes the problem worse? Mary_nelson71, those older machines are often the worst for it. The belts are worn out, the bearings are shot. Slapping a generic part on it just puts stress on something else that's about to break. You'll get three loads in and then the motor overheats. Now you're out the part money and still need a new washer.

reese_hayes7128d ago

Totally get that. My old Maytag started groaning last year. I bought the cheap belt kit, but I also spent an hour cleaning out all the gunk and checking the idler pulley. The belt got it running, but the cleanup is what kept it going. It's still a gamble, but you can tilt the odds if you're willing to do the extra work.