Why is My Dishwasher Making Loud Sounds?

Machines such as a dishwasher are there to be seen and not heard. Plus they get better results than hand washing and when you open the machine at the end of the cycle everything is dried up and ready to use again.

If you own a dishwasher the chances are it’s unpleasant to imagine life without it. Moreover most people would prefer not to the piles of washing up that you would need to do if it develops a fault. If that happens, you’ll need to call a dishwasher repair company to repair the appliance.

Is Your Dishwasher Too Loud?

It is absolutely routine for your dishwasher to make a variety of different noises during a cycle. The water filling the machine, the motor turning, the detergent drawer clicking open as well as the noise of the grinder blades are all routine noises.

If you replace your dishwasher these sounds are likely to be inconsistent from your old machine, moreover if you have installed a dishwasher for the first time they could not be the noises you expected.

Dishwasher Sounds Include:

A Water Sloshing or Swishing Noise

Hearing water gurgling and sloshing around is completely routine, these sounds can seem rather noisy if you are not used to having a dishwasher though they are nothing to worry about.

Water can regularly make a hissing noise as it enters the machine as well as a sloshing or swishing noise as the spray arms spray the water around the machine. The dishwasher will also drain and refill several times during the cycle.

A Pounding Sound

A thumping noise may be the result of the sprayer hitting against something that is dangling from the racks or an oversized dish. It could also be the drain pipe thumping into the wall or cabinets.This is more likely if your dishwasher has just been installed.

Although these aren’t noises a dishwasher should be making it is not difficult to fix with a little adjustment.

Regular Humming and Buzzing Noises

Humming noises are normal for many machines. This is the noise the water makes emptying out of the dishwasher. The buzzing is a result of the drain pump vibrating as it operates and is perfectly regular, it could also stop and start as the pump may not run continuously.

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

Many dishwashers also make use of a grinder that could make a buzzing noise while the dishwasher is on.

Beeping When the Cycle Finishes

Beeping sounds when the cycles finishes are absolutely regular although they can be annoying, especially if your dishwasher finishes its cycle in the middle of the night. You should be able to switch the beeping off using the control panel. .

Squealing Noise from a New Dishwasher

A new machine may make a squealing sounds on first use because there is no water in the machine. This can also cause a rattling noise and can also occur if your machine hasn’t been used for a period of time.

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

Abnormal Dishwasher Noises

It’s not unusual to be a little on edge if your dishwasher starts making unusual noises, however there is usually nothing to worry about.

On the other hand, if there are loud or unusual sounds coming from your dishwasher this may call for further investigation, in particular when you’ve had your dishwasher for some time and know how it usually sounds.

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

Although some machines could make a soft grinding noise as part of their regular operation if your dishwasher unexpectedly starts making a louder than normal or unusual grinding sound this is generally not a good sign and needs further investigation.

Most of the time the cause will be that something is caught in either the the waste disposal or the drain impeller, and therefore is grinding into the blades. If you suspect this might be the issue you need to stop the machine and check. If you find something, carefully remove it before re-starting the cycle.

The other possible cause is a lack of water in the drum, if this is the case you can have a look at the water inlet to try to determine why the machine is empty.

Irregular Humming, Rattling or Buzzing Noises

While humming and buzzing noises may be completely normal they can also indicate a problem. A faulty motor can produce a high pitched humming or even squealing noise, if this happens it will invariably need to be replaced.

A broken motor may also produce a rattling sound.

Rattling sounds coming from a machine are usually a result of plates and cutlery knocking against each other. However, particularly loud banging may also be a water problem.

To check, run an empty cycle and if the rattling sound persists this can be evidence of a faulty motor.

Beeping Mid-Cycle

Despite the fact that it is completely normal for a dishwasher to beep when it is finished, beeping during the cycle is commonly your machine telling you there is a fault. Many dishwashers will alert you if they are interrupted before they are finished and the cycle is paused. Or you may need to have a look at your manual.

Knocking, Clunking and Banging Sounds

A regular clunking is usually due to the sprayer hitting an obstruction inside the dishwasher and therefore may be easily fixed by adjusting your dishes. Things descending from the shelves is the most likely cause of this.

It may be worthwhile checking the arm can turn without obstruction each time you use your machine to prevent this from happening as it also means your dishes aren’t being cleaned effectively.

Banging, however, is more often a sign of a plumbing issue often referred to as water hammer. The banging noise is related to the water pressure in the pipes and therefore usually happens when the machine is in need of more water than the pipes feeding it can provide.

Water hammer can also result in banging in the pipes.

Regrettably there isn’t much you can do to solve this yourself and so it’s best to contact an engineer if you think this is an issue.

Mending your Dishwasher

Damaged pumps and motors are often responsible for strange loud noises emanating from your machine. The good news is these parts are replaceable so you shouldn’t need to replace your dishwasher. You could even be able to to the repair yourself or you may wish to contact a local engineer.