What's Making My Dishwasher Noisy?

A dishwasher making a lot of noise usually suggests that there is a part that needs to be replaced. Diagnosing and solving this issue yourself can save you time, money, and stress that can come from hiring an expensive repair tech. To make it easier for you, we put together a guide covering the 6 most common noises made by dishwashers, as well as how to fix each type of noise:

Grinding Sounds

If you're hearing grinding, something may be stuck in the chopper blade area of the dishwasher. To inspect the chopper, remove the cover on the bottom of the inside of the dishwasher. Be sure to clean both the chopper area as well as the manual filter.

Thumping Sounds

Generally, these are nothing to be overly concerned about as they're simple and easy to fix! First, open your dishwasher and be sure that no items are hanging down below either rack. If they are, it's likely that the rotating spray arm is contacting them and causing the thumping sound.

If no dishes are contacting the spray arm, your next step should be to check the drain hose as it may be thumping against the cabinet as it drains. To fix this issue, simply pull the dishwasher out to reposition the hose so it doesn't come into contact with any other surfaces, and the sound should disappear!

Loud Buzzing Sounds

The most likely cause of loud buzzing noises is an obstructed/dirty drain or wash pump. Refer to your owner’s manual for the exact locations and removal methods, but they most likely located on the back of the dishwasher, near the top. Inspect both the washer to ensure nothing is obstructing the areas and they are clean from debris. If there are no obstructions, it may be necessary to replace them.

Squealing or Continuous Droning Sounds

Again, the most likely culprit is the wash or drain pump. The motor will begin to make a squealing or droning sound when its bearings have gone bad. If this is the issue with your dishwasher, you'll need to replace the wash pump entirely. If you need help replacing yours, watch the instructional video below!

Scraping Sounds

This is likely caused by a damaged impeller or impeller fin scraping against the pump housing. Depending on the model of your dishwasher, you may be able to simply replace the impeller itself, rather than the entire motor. To inspect this issue, you will need to remove the pump housing, which is usually accessed by pulling the dishwasher out and removing the bottom panel. Once you have removed the pump housing, inspect to see if the impeller is damaged and able to spin freely with minimal resistance.

Beeping Sounds

If your dishwasher is beeping every few seconds, it's likely because the door is not properly closed during its cycle. Ensure the door is latched properly to eliminate the beeping sound. If your dishwasher door will not latch properly, it may be time to replace the latch. Watch the instructional video below to learn how to inspect and replace yours!

Wrap-Up

There you have it, 6 of the most common dishwasher sounds explained! We hope that this article helped you diagnose the issue with your appliance. If you require further assistance, check out our YouTube Channel with thousands of helpful videos that will walk you through our home appliance repairs and if you're in need of new parts for any of your home appliances don't forget that PartSelect also sells more than 2 million manufacturer-approved replacement parts!

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