Why is My Dishwasher Making Loud Sounds?

Your Dishwasher is there to be seen and not heard. Not to mention the fact that they get better results than washing up by hand and when they are finished all the dishes is already dry and ready to put away.

If you are fortunate enough to own a dishwasher the chances are it’s hard to remember the idea of not having one. Furthermore most people would ideally avoid the amount of washing up you would need to do if it develops a fault. In this case, you’ll need to call a dishwasher repair company to repair the appliance.

Is Your Dishwasher Too Loud?

It is completely regular to hear an assortment of distinct noises while your machine is running. The water entering the drum, the motor spinning, the dishwasher tablet compartment opening and closing and the buzz of the grinder blades are all routine sounds.

If you own a new dishwasher these noises may be different from your old machine, and if you have recently installed a dishwasher they may not be the noises you were expecting.

Dishwasher Sounds Include:

The Sound of Water Sloshing or Swishing

Hearing water gurgling and sloshing about is perfectly routine, they might sound quite intrusive if you are not used to having a dishwasher but you will soon get used to them.

Water will in many cases make a hissing noise as it enters the machine as well as a sloshing or swishing noise as the spray arms rotate. The dishwasher will also drain and refill multiple times during the cycle.

A Thumping Noise

A thumping sound can be the result of the sprayer hitting against something that is hanging down or an oversized dish. It could also be the drain pipe thumping into the wall or cabinets.

Although this isn’t a noise a dishwasher is designed to make it is simple to fix with a little adjustment.

Normal Humming and Buzzing Sounds

Humming sounds are routine for lots of machines. It is the noise the water makes emptying out of the machine. The buzzing is a result of the vibration caused by the drain pump and thus is completely regular, it could also pause as the pump helps push food debris as well as water out of the machine.

Humming may also be heard from the fan keeps the pump motor cool while it runs.

A lot of dishwashers also make use of a grinder that may produce a buzzing sound intermittently during the cycle.

Beeping at the End of the Cycle

Beeping sounds when the cycles has finished are perfectly routine despite the fact they could be irritating, particularly if your dishwasher ends its cycle at night. In most cases you can turn the beeping off on the dishwasher controls. Check your owners manual for details as machines will all be slightly different.

Squealing Noise from a New Dishwasher

A new dishwasher could make a squealing sounds the first few times it is run because there is no water in the machine. This could also result in a rattling noise and could also occur if your dishwasher has been out of action for a period of time.

You could stop this from happening by putting water in the dishwasher before running it for the first time or after you’ve been away.

Irregular Dishwasher Noises

If you hear strange noises emanating from your machine, being a little nervous is a very normal reaction although usually, it’s nothing to worry about.

On the other hand, if there are louder than usual or unusual noises coming from your dishwasher this may require further investigation, in particular if you’ve had the machine for some time and know what is normally sounds like.

Just remember, always cut the power to your machine before taking it apart.

A Loud or Unusual Grinding Sound

Although many dishwashers could produce a grinding noise as part of their routine cycle if your dishwasher suddenly begins to emit a loud or unusual grinding noise this is generally not a good sign and needs checking out.

The most likely cause will be an item such as an olive stone or corn kernel has got stuck in either the waste disposal or the drain impeller, and is knocking into the blades. If you suspect this might be the issue you need to stop the machine and check. If you discover anything, carefully remove it before re-starting the cycle.

Another potential reason is that there is insufficient water in the machine, if this is the case you should have a look at the water inlet valve to try to determine the reason the dishwasher isn’t filling with water.

Abnormal Humming, Rattling or Buzzing Noises

While humming as well as buzzing noises may be perfectly regular they could also signal an issue. A damaged pump could produce a irregular humming or even squealing noise, in this case you may need a replacement part.

A broken pump may also produce a rattling noise.

Rattling sounds emanating from a dishwasher are most likely caused by plates or cutlery knocking into one another. Nonetheless, unusually loud rattling can also be a water problem.

If you run an empty cycle and the rattling sound persists this can indicate a damaged motor.

Beeping During the Cycle

Although it is absolutely regular for a dishwasher to beep when it is finished, beeping mid cycle is often your machine letting you know there is a fault. Many machines will beep if they are opened half way through the cycle and the cycle is paused. Or you can need to have a look at the manual.

Knocking, Clunking and Banging Sounds

A rhythmic clunking is more often than not the result of the spray arm bashing something inside the machine and can be quickly rectified by adjusting your dishes. Items dangling from the shelves is often the problem.

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

Banging, however, is usually a sign of a plumbing issue often referred to as water hammer. The banging sound is due to the water pressure in the pipes and therefore often happens when the dishwasher is demanding more water than the pipes feeding it are able to provide.

Water hammer could also be the reason behind banging in the plumbing.

Unluckily there isn’t much you are able to do to resolve this on your own and so it’s best to contact a plumber if you suspect this is an issue.

Fixing your Dishwasher

Faulty pumps or motors are the most likely cause of sudden loud noises coming from your machine. Luckily these parts are replaceable so you shouldn’t need a whole new dishwasher. You could even manage to the repair on your own or you might need to phone a local engineer.