How do you soundproof a noisy dishwasher? This is the question that many homeowners ask themselves when they are standing in their kitchen and can hear the dishwasher running.

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Soundproofing a dishwasher is surprisingly easy to do, and there are plenty of different products out there that will help you achieve this goal. In this guide, we’ll discuss various methods for soundproofing your dishwasher – from using materials found around the house to purchasing special products made specifically for noise reduction.

Too much work? Skip the hassle and get yourself a new quiet dishwasher.

First Step: Identify What Is Causing The Noise

There are plenty of causes for noises coming from your dishwasher. The most common cause is that there’s not enough water in the tub and it’s scraping against itself, which creates a loud racket when you’re running a load.

If your dishwasher has started making noises all of a sudden, it’s best to have it checked by a professional. There could be something broken that requires an expert to fix it. Soundproofing a broken or malfunctioning dishwasher is not what you want to do.

This can be remedied by simply filling up the machine with more water – just remember to use cold or warm water instead of hot, which will cause the water to expand and make noise. You can also buy a dishwasher additive called “Dishwasher Magic”, which contains detergent that reduces scrubbing sounds by breaking down oils and odors on dishes, preventing them from sticking together in clumps.

There are other causes for sound coming from your machine which include :

  • Dishwasher being too close to the sink or other sound-generating appliances
  • A faulty motor on your dishwasher, which can be replaced by a professional.
  • Your home’s pipes are vibrating and making noise from running water in the house. This is an issue that many homeowners have with plumbing issues. It should be taken care of by a professional.

Your Dishwasher Pump Is Malfunctioning

A dishwasher’s pump is responsible for moving dirty water out of the dishwasher and producing a spray motion in the dish area. Other problems that can cause noise at the bottom of your dishwasher are debris or dirt on the air filter; if this has been checked, then have an experienced technician check it further to determine which problem you have.

Spray Arms Are Malfunctioning

Malfunctioning or broken spray arms are not uncommon, but they can be fixed with the right materials and knowledge of the dishwasher’s internal layout.

Spray arms need to be working properly without straining. However, when they are broken or worn out, they don’t rotate correctly. And if they’re not rotating correctly they could be hitting on something inside the dishwasher, which in turn could make a lot of noise.

How To Apply Sound Insulation For A Dishwasher

The most usual case is where the noise is coming from inside of the dishwasher. Regardless of the root cause, you’ll want to sound-insulate the dishwasher.

Here’s how to apply sound insulation on your dishwasher step-by-step in 7 steps.

Step 1: Turn off the dishwasher’s water and plug it out of the power socket.

As you prepare to soundproof your dishwasher, make sure to turn off the washer’s water supply and unplug it from its power source.

Step 2: Take off the front door and measure it

This step might seem a bit daunting but it’s rather simple really as long as you have two functioning hands and a Philip’s head screwdriver.

First of all, have a look at the manual of your dishwasher and see if there are instructions on how to remove the front panel. If not, you can do the following with most dishwashers:

First you need to open the front door of your dishwasher. Then locate the screws on the inside of the front panel (usually in the corners), unscrew them and close the door. You should now be able to remove the front panel.

Next you need measurements of the front panel. Measure it’s depth, length and width.

Step 3: Buy sound insulation for the front panel

Now that you have the exact size of your dishwasher’s front panel, now we need to get proper sound absorbing material between the panel and the door.

You could get a sound insulation blanket that’s specifically made for dishwashers. Some dishwasher manufacturers sell them.

The second option is to get an acoustic panel and cut it to the size. It’s not as efficient, but it’ll do the job.

If there’s already some form of material in place, do the following:

Steps for sound insulation blanket:

  1. Remove old material from dishwasher panel and door to measure size of new material needed.
  2. Cut a piece of sound absorbing foam to same dimensions with knife or scissors (with a straight edge). If you’re using an acoustic panel, you’ll need to measure and cut it the same way.
  3. Apply new material to dishwasher panel, making sure all edges are sealed with adhesive or double sided tape.

Step 4: Put the material in and put the front panel back together.

Insert the material that you chose between the dishwasher panel and door.

Next, insert screws in corners of front panel to screw it back together at first (don’t tighten fully as yet).

After you’ve tightened one side’s screws, go around again and do the same on all four sides of the sound insulation material.

If you’re not looking to install any further sound insulation, then check that everything is secure before putting in the water and plugging the power back in.

Step 5: Disconnect water and get the dishwasher out of its place.

The next step in soundproofing your dishwasher is to disconnect the water supply.

This might be a bit tricky because there are different types of connections for hot and cold pipes, depending on where you live. You’ll need to consult with someone if this applies to you or find some online guides that can help out.

If not, you’ll need to turn off the power at the breaker, wait for a few minutes and then disconnect both cables.

First unplug electrical cords from dishwasher connector (usually on side of machine) or from outlet.

Next unscrew nuts connecting water supply line to inlet valve and remove hose carefully so as not to spill any water .

Step 6: Cut the sound insulation material to size.

Once you’ve got your dishwasher out of its place, it’s time to make things a bit quieter by soundproofing it.

To do that we need to reduce vibrations from water pipes and other sounds coming in contact with metal parts so we’ll cut some acoustic foam or some other soundproofing material for the dishwasher to size.

First measure and cut your acoustic foam or sound proofing material with a straight edge, making sure it’s got enough room on all sides of the dishwasher to fully cover it.

Step 7: Remove the existing soundproofing.

There’s probably some old soundproofing material on the top of your dishwasher that you want to remove. They usually wear out over time and the more they wear out the less efficient they will be in soundproofing.

How you remove the existing sound insulation will depend on how it is installed. Examine it and act accordinly.

Step 8: Insert the new sound absorbing blanket on top

This is pretty self-explanatory. Insert the new material the same way the old one was installed.

Step 9: Attach soundproofing matting to the back of the dishwasher.

One of the most common causes of dishwasher noise is the dishwasher being a little too small for its designated space, which will cause it to hit its surroundings when it is operating – most often the wall in the back.

This noise can be dampened by adding two strips of soundproofing matting to the back of your dishwasher. No need to cover it fully here. Just make sure that one strip goes full length vertically and the other horizontally.

Step 10: Place the dishwasher back and attach water and electricity

Once you’ve got your soundproofing in place, it’s time to put the dishwasher back and reconnect the water.

Attach all covers and panels before reattaching any plugs or cables (don’t forget about screws!). Plug in power cord into outlet and turn on breaker (if applicable). Turn on hot/cold faucet and the dishwasher should start working.

You’re done!

If you still have some sound coming from your dishwasher, try installing a door seal or putting in extra insulation to reduce noise levels even more.

Should You Soundproof Your Dishwasher?

This depends on a few factors. If you want to soundproof your dishwasher because it is particularly loud and distracting, then the answer will be a resounding yes!

However, if you just want to make your new already quiet dishwasher less noisy, then the answer is more of a maybe.

If you already have soundproofing in place in another room like an office or nursery and you can’t hear your dishwasher running while in there, then it’s not necessary for you to soundproof it. The noise from the machine will be dampened by the walls and soundproofing.

If you are in a noisy area of your home or apartment, then it would be wise for you to try dampening the noise from your dishwasher as well.

The reasons why someone might want to soundproof their dishwasher can vary widely – some people have sensitive hearing that is irritated by the noise of a dishwasher, while others are concerned about the sound being too loud for their baby or dog.

The good news is that there are plenty of products out there to help you make your dishwasher as quiet as possible. No matter what your reason may be, we’ve got all sorts of solutions!