In most homes, when it comes to disturbing noise, the dishwasher is one of the biggest culprits. While some newer dishwasher models come with built-in soundproofing components, they aren’t effective enough to eliminate the noise completely.
The good news is that it’s possible to soundproof a dishwasher yourself and reduce the amount of noise it produces significantly. In this article, I’ll outline eight basic steps you can follow in order to soundproof your own dishwasher and give yourself a more peaceful home.
What Causes a Dishwasher to Make Noise?
There are a few things that may cause your dishwasher to make unnecessary loud noises. The presence of foreign objects—such as broken pieces, plates and stray pieces of food—is a common reason why your dishwasher’s pump may produce unwanted noise. Some other reasons why your dishwasher may be so noisy include:
A Malfunctioning Pump
The purpose of the pump is to operate the spray arms and drain the water from the dishwasher. It’s usually located at the bottom of the appliance and consists of the impeller and filter. If you notice that most of the unwanted noise is coming from the bottom of the dishwasher, then there’s a chance that the pump isn’t working properly.
Faulty Spray Arms
Your dishwasher’s spray arms should be rotating effortlessly and without inhibition. On the other hand, if they’re worn out, they may start to wobble and make noise instead. If the wobbling is producing noise, the spray arms need to be replaced.
Broken Bearings
Loud noise coming from your dishwasher could also be caused by broken bearings and loose seals. Since these parts are usually made from plastic, that means they can easily wear out or break, and this might even cause the spray arms to malfunction. If this is the case, you’ll need to replace these plastic parts.
How to Soundproof a Dishwasher
If the noise coming from your dishwasher has started to annoy you, then you might be thinking about getting a new one, since newer models tend to produce less noise than older models. However, even the newer models that are described as soundproof likely won’t be completely quiet.
As a result, rather than breaking the bank to get yourself a new dishwasher, I suggest that you soundproof your existing one cheaply and effectively. You should be able to do so if you follow the eight steps below carefully.
1. Turn Off Dishwasher and Unplug it
The first thing you’ll need to do is turn off the dishwasher’s water source. Following that, you must unplug it from its power source by unplugging the power cord or turning off the circuit breaker. This step is critical for your safety, so don’t skip it!
2. Remove the Door Panel
If you aren’t a handy person, this step might seem difficult, but it’s actually quite simple. You can start by using a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws along the edge of the inside of the door. After you carefully close the door, you can then begin removing the front panel.
3. Accurately Measure the Front Panel
Next, you’ll need to accurately measure the width, length and depth of the front panel while it’s not attached to the door. You’ll want to purchase some insulation or a sound-absorbing panel that will fit correctly into the space.
4. Install Soundproofing Material and Replace Panel
After successfully measuring the panel, you’ll have to purchase materials to soundproof it, such as the panels suggested directly above or this alternative soundproofing material.
Depending on the measurements of your panel, you may need to cut the material down to size. The ideal number to pay attention to is the depth, as it’s much harder to cut the depth down to size than it is to cut the length or the width.
After you’ve cut the soundproofing material to the correct size, gently place it inside the front panel of the dishwasher. Once it’s in, you can screw the front panel back onto the door of the dishwasher.
5. Detach Water Lines and Pull Away From Wall
At this point, you’ll disconnect all the water lines that are attached to your dishwasher. Then, you’ll carefully drag the dishwasher out from under its cabinet and away from the wall, which will give you enough space to work on the back.
Your dishwasher probably has soundproofing insulation wrapped around it, but over time, this insulation ages and doesn’t do much to absorb the sound. Also, with cheaper dishwashers, this insulation can be of a substandard quality to begin with. So either way, you’ll need to replace it with something much better.
You’ll find that the insulation has been attached to the dishwasher with a rivet, so you’ll have to carefully remove it with needle-nose pliers. Next, it’ll be time to attach the new insulation. You won’t even need a tool to do this, as you’ll be able to push the rivets directly into the frame, where they’ll automatically lock into place.
6. Add Soundproof Matting to the Back
When the dishwasher shakes and hits the back of the wall, that can cause a great deal of unwanted noise, and to minimize this, you’ll have to add some soundproofing matting to the rear of the dishwasher.
To do so, cut two horizontal strips and two vertical strips out of one or more soundproofing mats, and attach all four strips to the back of the dishwasher. Be sure to use a strong adhesive that’ll firmly hold them in place.
7. Return Everything to its Original Place
Once the previous step has been completed, carefully slide the dishwasher back into its usual position. Reattach all of the hoses, plug it back into its power supply, and then turn the water back on.
8. Test the Dishwasher
Now that you’ve successfully learned how to soundproof your dishwasher, all you’ll have to do is test it to ensure that it’s working properly. If you’ve followed the above guidelines in a careful manner, I’m confident that it’ll produce less noise than it did before when you run it again.
Optional Step
Another cheap but effective thing you can do, if the noise persists, is to invest in a dishwasher basket. Using a dishwasher basket will keep your small dishes in place and decrease the amount of noise they make. These baskets are available in various sizes, so you’ll need to look closely at which one is best for your dishwasher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is it expensive to soundproof a dishwasher?
A. The answer is no! You can easily soundproof your dishwasher for under $80. That’s a lot less than it would cost you to get a professional to repair it.
Q. Where is the best place to insulate the dishwasher?
A. You can actually insulate it anywhere you choose to, but I recommend that you do it in a place where you’ll have a lot of space, such as a garage or an empty room.
Q. Do I need to hire a professional?
A. No, you can simply do all the work by yourself, even if you normally aren’t a handy person. However, if you don’t have the time to do it, or you have a fair amount of money to spend, then hiring a professional is totally acceptable.
Q. How long will it take to soundproof a dishwasher?
A. If you aren’t used to doing projects like this, it may take you 40 to 90 minutes to get the job done, but if you’re very handy, you may be able to do the job more quickly.
Conclusion
One thing that most people don’t realize that almost any appliance in a home can be made soundproof. Now that you know, if you’d love to hear less noise throughout your entire residence, I suggest you start soundproofing today.
Aside from this guide, you may find my guide to soundproofing a room from outside noise to be helpful. If you have any questions pertaining to this guide, feel free to let us know by leaving a comment down below. We wish you the best on your soundproofing journey!
image 1: Pixabay; image 2: Pixabay