Dishwasher Making A Popping or Crackling Noise? Here’s Why

Are you trying to figure out why your dishwasher is making a popping or crackling noise?

Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place for answers.

Although it’s normal for dishwashers to make noises, some of them may indicate there’s an issue with the appliance.

If your dishwasher is making a popping or crackling noise, chances are it’s overloaded, there’s something stuck in the pump or in the chopper blade, or you have a loose kick plate. Having air on the water pipes, electrical problems or a faulty motor could also explain the issue.

Keep reading to learn how to solve these issues!

Solving A Popping or Crackling Dishwahser

Using a dishwasher is a great way to save time. However, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that its performance issues can be super annoying.

Don’t worry, though. I’ve prepared a list of 7 quick fixes that will help you get rid of your dishwasher’s popping or crackling noises. These are:

#1 Load Your Dishwasher Properly

Before doing anything else, I recommend checking your dishwasher.

You see, if it’s not loaded correctly or the dishes are touching each other, you may hear a popping or crackling noise.

I know this solution might sound too simple, but it’s normal to miss this step, especially if we’re in a hurry.

There are different ways to load a dishwasher, but for this specific case, I recommend facing your dishes toward the center or angling them downward.

Moreover, make sure your dishes and cutlery are not touching each other and are stacked securely, since this is one of the most common reasons why your dishwasher makes noises or doesn’t dry your dishes evenly.

#2 Check the Pump

If your dishwasher was loaded correctly, chances are there’s something stuck in the pump.

You see, when the pump is clogged, wastewater can’t be pumped out of the machine, which can lead to different issues, including popping or crackling noises.

But, don’t worry. You can easily check if that’s the case. You’ll just need to:

1. Turn off your dishwasher and the water supply. Then, unplug it from the wall outlet.
2. Take out the bottom basket and move the spray arm, so you can access the filter unit.
3. Unscrew the filter unit to access the pump. Then, remove the filter.
4. Clean the pump and remove any debris. There may be glass stuck in the pump, this is why I recommend being cautious and using protective gloves, and ideally using a shop vac to suck out any obstructions.

Once you’ve done that, reassemble your dishwasher and plug it back in. Then, start a wash cycle to see if the issue was solved.

#3 Check the Chopper Blade

As you may already know, your dishwasher’s chopper blade dices the leftover food into small particles to avoid having a clogged drain line.

Unfortunately, if your blade is faulty, the chopper screen can become easily clogged. When this happens, your dishwasher might make a popping or crackling noise.

This is a common issue and can be easily fixed. Follow these simple instructions to do it:

1. Unplug your dishwasher from the wall outlet.
2. Open the door and take out the lower and upper dish racks. You may need to remove a tab or clip in each of the slider rails to be able to take out the dish rack.
3. Locate the spray arm at the bottom of your dishwasher and spin it counterclockwise to remove it.
4. Disconnect the water tube by pressing the clips with your fingers. Grab the tube and turn it clockwise to remove it. (This will vary based on the model).
5. Remove the screws from the filter housing and pump cover and remove it to expose the chopper assembly cover.
6. Remove the screws that are holding the chopper assembly cover and/or chopper screen in place and take it out. I recommend using some needle-nose pliers.
7. Check the chopper. If it has food debris, you can try cleaning it. However, I recommend replacing it with a new one because it’s likely that the old chopper blade is not working anymore.

Once you’ve completed the steps above, please reassemble your dishwasher and check it functions properly.

Tip: If you want detailed instructions, please read your dishwasher’s manual.

#4 Tighten the Kick Plate

When you start a wash cycle, your dishwasher may vibrate and move. Although this is normal, it can make some parts become loose. This could explain why your dishwasher is making a popping or crackling noise.

While doing our research, we noticed that it is very common for the kick plate to become loose, so I recommend checking this component first.

The kick plate is located at the bottom of your dishwasher. Once you’ve found it, please check if it moves or wiggles.

If it does, I recommend removing it and reinstalling it. This way, you’ll make sure its screws are not loose.

Don’t forget to make sure that the other panels and components of your dishwasher aren’t loose. If they are, please tighten their screws.

#5 Remove Air From Your Water Pipes

When water has been recently shut off or new plumbing has been added, air can easily get into your water pipes.

So, if you notice a popping noise when you turn on your dishwasher, there’s a good chance you have air bubbles in your water pipes.

Don’t worry, there are different ways in which you can solve this issue.

The easiest one is by opening every faucet in your home (shower, bathroom sinks, kitchen sink, etc.) and leaving the water running for a couple of minutes. Please use buckets to store that water and reuse it, it’s crucial to take care of the environment.

You can also wait for a couple of hours or until you’ve flushed the toilet. This quick action can also get rid of air in the water pipes.

#6 Check the Wiring

Moving on, you might want to check the wires attached to your dishwasher.

You see, if these are damaged, you may run into electrical problems. Loose electrical connections can cause an electrical arcing popping noise, which could explain your issue.

Since wiring issues can cause the circuit breaker to trip or even a short circuit, I recommend carefully unplugging your dishwasher and calling a professional to avoid hurting yourself.

#7 Check the Motor

Lastly, the popping sound could be coming from the motor. If something has deformed to where the motor is making contact with it (including an issue with the motor itself), this could be causing a repeated popping or banging sound.

Similar to the other fixes above, you’ll need to unplug the dishwasher and access the motor – which varies depending on your model. If it’s been damaged or deformed, you’ll likely need to replace it. This is often something best left to a professional, and can sometimes be more expensive than simply buying a new model!

Finding Your Dishwasher’s Manual

As you probably noticed, you may need to access certain dishwasher components to solve the issue, such as the motor or chopper blade.

Although I provided general instructions to do it, I recommend checking your dishwasher’s manual, since the process may vary depending on the brand or model you own.

If you can’t find the manual, please search on Google for your dishwasher’s brand and model.

For example, if you have a Bosch dishwasher, you’ll need to type “Bosch [manual] Dishwasher Manual PDF” in the search bar.

Conclusion

That about covers it! I hope that the seven fixes above have helped you gain some more confidence in solving the problem.

Remember, if your dishwasher is making popping or crackling noises, you’ll need to make sure the dishes inside are not touching each other, unclog the pump, and check the chopper blade and motor.

Moreover, don’t forget to make sure that the kick plate is not loose, and remove air from your water pipes.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this guide. If you found it helpful, please check out our related content below.

Good luck!