Why is My Dishwasher Making Loud Sounds?

Machines such as a dishwasher are designed to make life easier. Not to mention the fact that they are more hygienic than hand washing and when you open the machine when they are finished everything is already dry and ready to put away.

If you own a dishwasher the chances are it’s difficult to contemplate the idea of not having one. And most people would prefer not to the mountain of washing up that you would need to do if it develops a fault. In this case, you’ll need to call a dishwasher repair company to fix the appliance.

Is Your Dishwasher Noisy?

It is absolutely routine for a dishwasher to make an assortment of distinct noises during a cycle. The water filling the drum, the motor working, the detergent drawer clicking open and the noise of the grinder blades are all normal noises.

If you have a new dishwasher these sounds are likely to be different from your old machine, and if you have recently installed a dishwasher they might not be the sounds you expected.

Dishwasher Sounds Include:

A Water Sloshing or Swishing Noise

Water sloshing sounds are perfectly routine, they can sound pretty noisy if you are not used to having a dishwasher although you will soon get used to them.

Water will in many cases make a hissing noise as it pushes through the water inlet and a sloshing or swishing sound as the spray arms disperse the water around the machine. The dishwasher will also drain and refill multiple times during the cycle.

A Pounding Noise

A pounding sound could happen because of the sprayer hitting into something that is hanging down from the racks or a large dish. Alternatively, it may be the drain line bashing into the wall or cabinets.This is more likely if your machine has recently been installed.

Despite the fact that these aren’t noises your dishwasher is designed to make it is simple to sort out with a little adjustment.

Regular Humming and Buzzing Noises

Humming noises are regular for lots of machines. This is the noise the water makes pumping out of the dishwasher. The humming is due to the vibration caused by the drain pump and is perfectly routine, it can also stop and start as the pump may not run continuously.

Humming may additionally be heard as a result of the fan that cools the dishwasher motor while it is spinning.

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

Beeping When the Cycle Has Finished

Beeping noises when the cycles finishes are perfectly routine although they may be irritating, especially if your dishwasher finishes its cycle while you’re in bed. You should be able to switch the beeping off using the control panel. Check your instructions for instructions as makes will vary.

Squealing from a New Dishwasher

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

You may avoid this by putting water in the drum before running it for the first time or after you’ve not used it for a while.

Worrying Dishwasher Noises

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

That being said, if there are louder than usual or unusual sounds coming from your dishwasher this may call for additional investigation, in particular when you’ve had the machine for a while and know what is normally sounds like.

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

A Loud or Unusual Grinding Sound

Although plenty of machines may produce a grinding noise as part of their routine cycle if your machine all of a sudden develops a loud or unusual grinding sound this is often a sign of an issue and thus needs further investigation.

Most of the time the reason will be that something is caught in either the the waste disposal or the drain impeller, and therefore is grinding against the blades. If you suspect this could be the problem you should pause the cycle and have a look. If you discover something, remove it carefully before re-starting the machine.

An alternative potential issue is that there is insufficient water in the machine, if this is the case you can have a look at the water inlet to try to find out the reason the machine is empty.

Abnormal Humming, Rattling or Buzzing Sounds

While humming as well as buzzing sounds may be completely routine they can also indicate an issue. A faulty motor can make a irregular humming or even shrieking noise, in this case you may need a replacement part.

A faulty motor can also produce a rattling sound.

Rattling sounds emanating from a dishwasher are most likely caused by dishes or cutlery knocking into one another. However, particularly loud banging could also be indicative of a plumbing issue.

If you run an empty cycle and the rattling sound persists this could be evidence of a faulty pump.

Beeping During the Cycle

Despite the fact that it is completely routine for a machine to beep when it is finished, beeping half way through the cycle is commonly your machine telling you there is a fault. Many dishwashers will beep if they are interrupted half way through the cycle and the cycle is paused. Or you can need to have a look at your manual.

Knocking, Clunking and Banging Sounds

A rhythmical thumping is usually due to the sprayer hitting something inside the machine and could be quickly rectified by adjusting your dishes. Items dangling from the racks is the most likely cause of this.

It can be a good idea to check that the arm can turn freely regularly before starting your machine to prevent this from being an issue as it also means your dishes aren’t being cleaned effectively.

Banging, however, is more often a sign of a plumbing problem known as water hammer. The banging noise is due to the water pressure in the pipes and often happens when the machine is demanding more water than the pipes feeding it are able to provide.

Water hammer could also result in banging in the pipes.

Regrettably there isn’t much you are able to do to solve this on your own and so it’s recommended to call an engineer if you imagine this is an issue.

Mending your Dishwasher

Damaged pumps or motors are often responsible for sudden loud sounds coming from your machine. The good news is these parts can be replaced so you shouldn’t need to replace your dishwasher. You could even manage to the repair yourself or you could wish to contact a local engineer.