sound insulation
Hi Rich,
Yes! There are many modifications that one can do to quiet a noisy dishwasher, regardless of brand.
First, I often use a vinyl or asphaltic sound dampener. They are peel and stick sheets, primarily used for automobiles, to quiet down resonances. Manufacturers often use sound dampening on the tubs of their machines.
If one has a older or lower line machine, placing the dampening sheets externally on the tub will reduce the noise of the impact of the water hitting the inside tub walls. Sound dampening sheets convert mechanical energy (vibrations) to heat energy.
A money saving trick, Lowe's and Home Depot carry a gutter repair tape that is virtually identical to commercial audio sound dampening asphaltic sheets. It is asphalt with a silver metallic covering and a adhesive backing. Automobile audiophiles have been using this for ages instead of the more expensive name brands of sound dampening materials.
I often use it myself.
After sound dampening the tub, then I use a sound absorption material on top. Often, I use the insulation from a previous discarded dishwasher. You can also purchase sound absorption material from McMaster-Carr, and from other online sources such as Parts Express. eBay and Amazon offer many choices, as well
I have even used fiberglass wall insulation with very good success, as well as lining the inside of the kitchen cabinet cavity with Styrofoam sheets.
On older dishwashers, it is best to keep the motor compartment free of surrounding insulation so you do not impede air circulation. Many manufacturers use fiberglass on the access door. If you have a lower line model without this, you can once again use fiberglass wall insulation, but on the access panel only, once again leaving the rest of the space beneath the dishwasher free for air circulation
Another prominent source of sound from dishwashers is often through the door vent. Internal water circulation sounds exit through the vent. Some manufacturers use an active vent closing system to seal the vent during circulation.
General Electric came up with an very effective alternative, a Styrofoam insert at the top of the door vent absorbs a surprising amount of the circulation sound.
If you have an earlier model, eg. From the early eighties, you can go online and purchase the exact GE replacement part and retrofit your dishwasher just as the newer GE's. I did that with my early GSD 1200 and 2800's.
That is the one easiest and most effective thing you can do for a quieter GE machine.
To mitigate vibrations from the machine to the floor, I use sorbothane pads beneath the feet. You can purchase commercial appliance pads, if you can find them thin enough, or do as I do and buy raw sorbothane rubber and cut small pieces to fit under the dishwashers feet. Sorbothane is a prodigious dampener of vibrations in the low frequency range where appliance vibrations occur.
It is fun to quiet down any brand with sound insulation materials.
[this post was last edited: 5/28/2024-07:08]
ump was axial flow propeller type,looked like downsized copy of mid-1960s GE axial flow.The timer was loud too.
