Why is My Dishwasher Making Loud Sounds?

Appliances like a dishwasher are there to save you time and make your life better. Not to mention the fact that they get better results than washing up by hand and when you open the machine when they are finished everything is dried up and ready to put away.

If you are fortunate enough to use a dishwasher the probability is it’s unpleasant to imagine the idea of not having one. Moreover most people would prefer not to the amount of washing up you would have to do if it develops a fault. If that happens, you’ll want to call a dishwasher repair company to fix the kitchen appliance.

Is Your Dishwasher Noisy?

It is absolutely normal for your dishwasher to produce a variety of different sounds during a cycle. The water entering the machine, the motor spinning, the dishwasher tablet drawer opening and closing as well as the hum of the soft food grinder are all normal noises.

If you have a new machine these noises could be different from your old machine, furthermore 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

Water sloshing sounds are perfectly routine, they can appear quite noisy if you are not used to having a dishwasher but they are nothing to worry about.

Water can regularly produce a hissing noise as it pushes through the inlet and a sloshing or swishing noise as the spray arms rotate. The dishwasher will also repeat this process multiple times each time it runs.

A Thumping Noise

A pounding sound could happen because of the spray arm hitting against an object that is dangling or an oversized dish. Alternatively, it may be the drain line thumping against the wall or cabinets.This is more likely if your machine has just been installed.

Although this isn’t a noise a dishwasher is designed to make it is easy to rectify with a little rearrangement.

Normal Humming and Buzzing Sounds

Humming noises are normal for lots of models. It is the noise the water makes emptying out of the machine. The buzzing is due to the drain pump vibrating as it operates and thus is completely regular, it may also pause as the pump may not run continuously.

Buzzing can additionally be heard from the fan that cools the dishwasher motor while it is turning.

Plenty of machines also include a food disposal grinder that may produce a humming noise during the cycle.

Beeping When the Cycle Has Finished

Beeping noises at the end of the cycle are completely normal despite the fact they could be annoying, especially if your machine finishes running while you’re in bed. In most cases you can turn this noise off on the control panel. Check your instructions for details as makes will vary.

Squealing from a New Dishwasher

A new machine can produce a squealing noise when it is first installed because there is no water in the drum. This may also cause a rattling sound , this can also happen if your dishwasher hasn’t been operated for a period of time.

You could avoid this by putting water in the drum before running it for the first time or after you’ve been away.

Worrying Dishwasher Noises

It’s not uncommon to feel a little uneasy if your machine starts making funny noises, however there is usually no cause for concern.

On the other hand, if there are louder than usual or unusual noises coming from your machine this can call for additional investigation, especially if you’ve had your dishwasher for some time and thus know what is normally sounds like.

Remember, always turn the power off to your machine before taking it apart.

Loud or Unusual Grinding Noises

Although many machines may produce a grinding noise as part of their normal operation if your machine all of a sudden begins to emit a louder than normal or strange grinding sound this is not considered a good sign and thus needs further investigation.

The most common reason will be that something is caught in either the the waste disposal or the drain impeller, and is grinding against the blades. If you suspect this might be the issue you need to stop the machine and check. If you find anything, carefully remove it before re-starting the cycle.

An alternative potential issue is that there is insufficient water in the machine, in which case, you can check the water inlet valve to try to determine why the machine doesn’t have enough water.

Abnormal Humming, Rattling or Buzzing Sounds

While humming and also buzzing noises can be absolutely routine they could also be a sign of a fault. A broken pump can produce a high pitched humming or even shrieking noise, if this happens it will often need to be replaced.

A broken motor may also produce a rattling noise.

Rattling noises deriving from a machine are often a result of dishes or cutlery hitting into one another. Nonetheless, particularly noisy thumping could also be indicative of a plumbing issue.

To check, run an empty cycle and if the rattling sound continues this may indicate a faulty motor.

Beeping Before the Cycle is Over

Despite the fact that it is completely normal for a machine to beep when it is finished, beeping half way through the cycle is often your machine indicating there is a fault. Many machines will alert you if they are opened half way through the cycle so that the cycle is paused. Or you can need to have a look at the owners manual.

Knocking, Clunking and Banging Noises

A rhythmic clunking is most likely due to the arm bashing an obstruction inside the machine and therefore could be quickly rectified by adjusting your dishes. Things dangling from the racks is the most likely cause of this.

It may be a good idea to check that the arm is able to spin freely each time you use your machine to stop this from being an issue as it has a side effect of meaning your dishes aren’t being cleaned effectively.

Banging, however, is more often an indication of a plumbing problem often referred to as water hammer. The banging sound is related to the water pressure in the pipes and often occurs when the machine is demanding more water than the pipes feeding it are able to supply.

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

Unfortunately there isn’t much you can do to fix this yourself therefore it’s easiest to contact an engineer if you suspect this is an issue.

Fixing your Dishwasher

Damaged pumps and motors are often responsible for strange loud noises coming from your machine. Luckily these parts can be replaced so you shouldn’t need a whole replacement machine. You could even be able to to the repair on your own or you might need to contact a local repair person.