Appliance noise troubleshooting: causes & cures.

These articles discuss home or building appliance noise diagnosis & control: how to inspect, diagnose & cure noise or sound problems traced to electrical appliances in homes or commercial buildings.

Appliance Noises in buildings, Sources of

Appliance noises in buildings are a bit easier to track down. If you are uncertain just which appliance is a noise source, or if it is a noise source, just try turning off individual appliances to check for cessation of noise.

Appliance noises cover a wide range, from humming refrigerator compressors to rattling loose metal parts.

Appliances most often run intermittently

 on their own, especially refrigerators, freezers, well pumps, heating systems, air conditioner systems, all produce noises that will start and stop as the appliance is off or on, and may involve humming, whining, whistles, rattles, or other mechanical or electrical sounds.

For examples see HEATING SYSTEM NOISE DIAGNOSIS

or see OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS.

• Air Conditioning or Heat Pump System Noises & Sounds 
  
  include a very wide range of noises depending on the type of equipment, operating loads, duct systems, even loose or mechanical sounds as well as horrible shrieks and moans of failing parts. Sound recordings and links to diagnostic descriptions of various HVAC system noises are at
  • NOISES, HVAC SOUND RECORDINGS
  • NOISES, HVAC SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS - home

• Bread maker sounds:
  
  here is a recording of normal rhythmic thumping sounds heard near a Jojirushi BBC x 20 bread machine
  • BREAD MAKER NOISE
• Coffee grinder noise:
  
  here is a recording of normal sounds from a Cuisinart coffee grinder macerating coffee beans
  • COFFEE GRINDER NOISE
• Clothes dryer noise:
  
  besides the normal noise of the drive motor that spins the dryer and possible gas burner noise if your dryer is a gas unit, watch out for rattles from a very wet, out of balance load, or a horrible crashing and bashing sound that signals that the dryer drum drive belt has burst. Also see safety warnings
  
  at DRYER VENTING


• Dishwasher noises
  
  dishwashers are a subject of enough annoying noise (for some models) that most units include a noise rating in their promotional literature. Besides the normal motor noise and splashing sounds during the dishwasher cycle, if your dishwasher sounds have changed, look for a worn or damaged motor bearing. Here are some recordings of various dishwasher noises & sounds, both normal and abnormal
  • DISWHWASHER NORMAL NOISE - normal, quiet Sears® dishwasher (replacement for the unit recorded just below)
  • DISHWASHER NOISE RECORDING - grinding whirring Whirlpool® dishwasher about to be replaced
• ELECTRIC MOTOR NOISE DIAGNOSIS - for motors driving some appliances
• Refrigerator ice makers 
  
  can produce an unexpected whirring or clanking sounds that you may never notice during daytime but that might be surprising during quite night hours.
• Don't rule out tiny appliances
  
   that can be surprisingly irritating to people with sensitive hearing, such as electric clocks, clocks on appliances, free-standing electric clocks (a high-pitched mechanical grinding, whirring, or gear noise is common) and non-electric clocks and timers
• Also see APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS.
• JETTED TUB & SPA NOISE ISSUES incude whirs and bubbling from the pump and air injection system. If these noises have increased in volume look for a blockage in the water or air system or a loose pump or motor. Shut down the system.

Washing Machine Noises: Causes, Importance, Repairs

See details of normal and abnormal washing machine noises

at WASHING MACHINE NOISE CAUSE & CURE

...

Continue reading at APPLIANCE DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• APPLIANCE DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
• ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE
• NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE - identify a noise by sound type, source, or other observations
• NOISES, HVAC SOUND RECORDINGS

Suggested citation for this web page

APPLIANCE NOISE DIAGNOSIS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING NOISE DIAGNOSIS

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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