Why is My Dishwasher Making Loud Sounds?

Your Dishwasher is designed to make life easier. Not to mention the fact that they are more hygienic than hand washing and when you open the machine in the morning everything is dry and ready to put away.

If you are fortunate enough to own a dishwasher the chances are it’s hard to contemplate the idea of not having one. Furthermore most people would ideally avoid the amount of dishes that you would be required to do if it breaks down. In this case, you will need to call a dishwasher repair company to repair the kitchen appliance.

Is Your Dishwasher Too Loud?

It is perfectly normal for your dishwasher to make an array of different noises during a cycle. The water running into the drum, the motor spinning, the detergent compartment clicking open as well as the hum of the soft food grinder are all regular sounds.

If you own a new dishwasher these noises may be different from your old machine, and if you have installed a machine for the first time they could not be the sounds you expected.

Dishwasher Sounds Include:

Water Sound

Hearing water gurgling and sloshing about is perfectly routine, they can appear pretty intrusive at first though they are nothing to worry about.

Water can regularly make a hissing sound as it pushes through the inlet as well as a sloshing or swishing noise as the spray arms rotate. The machine will also drain and refill during the cycle.

A Thumping Sound

A thumping sound could be the result of the sprayer hitting into an object that is hanging down from the racks or a large dish. It could also be the drain line banging into the wall or cabinets.This is more likely if your dishwasher has just been installed.

Despite the fact that this isn’t a noise your dishwasher is designed to make it is not difficult to rectify with a little adjustment.

Routine Humming as well as Buzzing Sounds

Humming noises are normal for many models. This is the noise the water makes emptying out of the dishwasher. The humming is a result of the vibration caused by the drain pump and is absolutely regular, it could also pause as the pump may not run continuously.

Humming could also be heard as a result of the fan keeps the motor cool while it runs.

A lot of dishwashers also include a food disposal grinder that can make a humming noise during the cycle.

Beeping at the End of the Cycle

Beeping sounds at the end of the cycle are completely normal despite the fact they can be irritating, particularly if your dishwasher finishes its cycle at night. You should be able to switch the beeping off on the dishwasher controls. Check your instructions for instructions as machines will all be slightly different.

Squealing from a New Dishwasher

A new machine can produce a squealing noise the first few times it is run due to there not being any water in the machine. This may also cause a rattling noise , this could also happen if your machine has been out of action for a period of time.

You can stop this from happening by putting water in the dishwasher before turning it on for the first time or after you’ve not used it for a while.

Irregular Dishwasher Noises

If you notice strange sounds coming from your dishwasher, getting a little uneasy is a very normal reaction but usually, it’s there’s no cause for concern.

That being said, if there are loud or unusual sounds coming from your machine this could require further investigation, in particular when you’ve had the machine for some time and thus know what is normally sounds like.

Don’t forget, always turn the power off to your machine before taking it apart.

A Loud or Unusual Grinding Noise

Although plenty of machines could produce a soft grinding noise as part of their regular operation if your dishwasher suddenly starts making a loud or unusual grinding sound this is often a sign of an issue and thus needs checking out.

The most common reason will be an item such as an olive stone or corn kernel is caught in either the the waste disposal or the drain impeller, and therefore is knocking against the blades. in this case you need to pause the cycle and check. If you find something, carefully take it out before re-starting the dishwasher.

Another possible reason is a lack of water in the machine, if this is the case you can have a look at the water inlet valve to try to determine why the machine isn’t filling with water.

Irregular Humming, Rattling or Buzzing Sounds

While humming as well as buzzing sounds may be completely normal they could also indicate a problem. A faulty pump may produce a irregular humming or even shrieking sound, if this happens it will often need to be replaced.

A faulty motor can also produce a rattling noise.

Rattling noises deriving from a dishwasher are most likely a result of plates or cutlery bashing into one another. However, particularly loud thumping can also be a water problem.

If you run an empty cycle and the rattling sound is still there this may be evidence of a faulty pump.

Beeping During the Cycle

Although it is perfectly normal for a dishwasher to beep at the end of the cycle, beeping during the cycle is usually your dishwasher letting you know there is a fault. Many dishwashers will alert you if they are interrupted half way through the cycle so that the cycle is paused. Or you may need to consult your owners manual.

Knocking, Clunking and Banging Noises

A regular thumping is more often than not due to the spray arm bashing something inside the machine and thus may be quickly fixed by rearranging your dishes. Things hanging down from the shelves is often the problem.

It can be a good idea to check that the arm is able to spin without obstruction routinely to prevent this from being an issue as it has a side effect of meaning your dishes aren’t being cleaned effectively.

Banging, on the other hand, is often an indication of a household plumbing issue often referred to as water hammer. The banging noise is related to the water pressure in the pipes and thus usually happens when the dishwasher is in need of more water than the pipes feeding it can supply.

Water hammer may also result in rattling in the pipes.

Unfortunately there isn’t much you can do to resolve this yourself therefore it’s easiest to phone an engineer if you suspect this is the problem.

Mending your Dishwasher

Broken pumps as well as motors are the most likely cause of strange loud noises coming from your dishwasher. The good news is these parts are replaceable so you shouldn’t need to replace your dishwasher. You might even be able to to the repair yourself or you could need to call a local engineer.

More Dishwasher Problems: