Why is My Dishwasher Making Loud Sounds?

Your Dishwasher is there to be seen and not heard. Plus they are more hygienic than hand washing and at the end of the cycle everything is dried up and ready to put away.

If you use a dishwasher the chances are it’s hard to imagine the idea of not having one. Moreover you would definitely rather not imagine the piles of washing up that you would be required to do if it breaks down. If that happens, you will need to hire a dishwasher repair company to repair the appliance.

Is Your Dishwasher Noisy?

It is absolutely regular to notice an assortment of different sounds while your dishwasher is running. The water running into the machine, the motor spinning, the dishwasher tablet compartment opening and closing and the buzz of the grinder are all normal sounds.

If you replace your dishwasher these noises are likely to be different from your old machine, moreover if you have recently installed a machine they may not be the noises you were expecting.

Dishwasher Sounds Include:

The Sound of Water Sloshing or Swishing

Water sloshing noises are completely normal, they can sound pretty intrusive at first but you will soon get used to them.

Water will often produce a hissing sound as it pushes through the inlet valve as well as a sloshing or swishing sound as the spray arms rotate. The dishwasher will also repeat this process multiple times each time it runs.

A Thumping Noise

A pounding sound may be de to the sprayer bashing into something that is hanging down from the racks or an oversized dish. It could also be the drain line thumping into the wall or cabinets.

Despite the fact that these aren’t noises a machine should be making it is simple to rectify with a little rearrangement.

Normal Humming and Buzzing Noises

Humming noises are routine for plenty of machines. This is the sound of water pumping out of the dishwasher. The humming is due to the pump vibrating as it operates and is perfectly normal, it can also stop and start as the pump helps push food debris and water out of the machine.

Humming may also be a result of the fan keeps the dishwasher motor cool while it works.

Plenty of machines also include a soft food grinder that could produce a buzzing noise during the cycle.

Beeping When the Cycle Finishes

Beeping sounds when the cycles finishes are completely regular although they may be irritating, especially if your dishwasher completes its cycle in the middle of the night. You should be able to switch the beeping off on the control panel. Check your owners manual for details as models will vary.

Squealing from a New Dishwasher

A new machine could make a squealing sounds when it is first installed because there is no water in the machine. This may also result in a rattling noise , this can also happen if your machine has been out of action for a period of time.

You may stop this from happening by adding about a quart of water to the drum before running it for the first time or when you’ve been away.

Worrying Dishwasher Noises

It’s not unusual to get a little uneasy if your machine starts making funny noises, however there is usually nothing to worry about.

However, if there are loud or unusual sounds coming from your dishwasher this can require additional investigation, in particular when you’ve had the dishwasher for some time and thus know what is normally sounds like.

Just remember, if you are going to start taking your machine apart you should always turn off the power first.

Loud or Unusual Grinding Noises

Despite the fact that some machines may make a soft grinding noise as part of their normal cycle if your dishwasher all of a sudden develops a louder than normal or strange grinding noise this is often a sign of an issue and thus needs further investigation.

Most of the time the 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 is knocking against the blades. If you suspect this might be the issue you should pause the cycle and have a look. If you discover something, carefully remove it before re-starting the cycle.

Another possible issue is that there is insufficient water in the dishwasher, if this is the case you should have a look at the water inlet to try to determine the reason the dishwasher doesn’t have enough water.

Abnormal Humming, Rattling or Buzzing Noises

While humming and buzzing noises can be completely routine they can also be a sign of a fault. A damaged pump may make a loud humming or even shrieking noise, if this happens it will usually need to be replaced.

A broken motor can also produce a rattling sound.

Rattling sounds deriving from a dishwasher are often a result of dishes and cutlery hitting against each other. However, unusually loud thumping can also be a plumbing problem.

If you run an empty cycle and the rattling sound is still there this could indicate a faulty motor.

Beeping Mid-Cycle

Although it is completely routine for a machine to beep at the end of the cycle, beeping half way through the cycle is usually your machine telling you there is a fault. Many machines will beep if they are interrupted half way through the cycle and the cycle is paused. Or you may need to have a look at your manual.

Knocking, Clunking and Banging Noises

A regular thumping is most likely the result of the sprayer hitting an obstruction inside the dishwasher and thus can be easily fixed by rearranging your dishes. Things hanging down from the shelves is often the problem.

It can be worthwhile checking the arm can turn without obstruction each time you use your machine to prevent this from being an issue as it also means your dishes don’t get cleaned so well.

Banging, however, is more often an indication of a plumbing problem known as water hammer. The banging noise is due to the water pressure in the pipes and often occurs when the valves are opening and closing.

Water hammer may also result in rattling in the pipes.

Regrettably there isn’t much you can do to resolve this yourself therefore it’s easiest to contact an engineer if you think this is the problem.

Mending your Dishwasher

Broken pumps or motors are often responsible for sudden loud sounds coming from your dishwasher. The good news is these parts can be replaced so you shouldn’t need a whole replacement dishwasher. You may even be able to to the repair yourself or you might need to contact a local repair person.