The Dishwasher That Sounded Like a Grinder

# The Dishwasher That Sounded Like a Grinder

A customer called, saying their dishwasher made “metal-on-metal” grinding noises every time it ran. They stopped using it, fearing permanent damage.

## The Inspection

We pulled the lower rack and found metal fragments near the drain. The impeller area had scratching marks.

## Culprit: Trapped Debris

A small **olive pit** and a **broken glass shard** had lodged in the pump impeller. They caused vibration, noise, and slight scoring on the housing.

## The Repair

We disassembled the sump, removed debris, smoothed the housing edges, and reassembled the unit. No parts required replacement.

## Preventive Tips

- Rinse off large food particles before loading.
- Avoid loading small, sharp fragments (toothpicks, seeds, glass pieces).
- Clean the filter weekly to prevent debris buildup.

## Why Dishwasher Noise Matters

Foreign objects can damage pumps and seals. A $0.05 olive pit could’ve turned into a $200 repair.

## Quiet Operation Restored

After reassembly, the dishwasher ran whisper-quiet again. The customer couldn’t believe such a simple cause made such a loud noise.