Noise can come from faulty parts, but it also may be caused by improperly loaded dishes. Check your owner’s manual for proper loading methods.

When the dishwasher is cool (in other words, not just after a wash cycle), look in the openings around the pump at the bottom of the dishwasher’s interior to be sure no implements or hard debris such as bones, fruit pits, or silverware are stuck in them.

Also check that your dishwasher is sitting level. Adjust the feet beneath the unit by screwing them up or down. If there are locknuts on the feet, make sure they are tight.

A thumping or chattering sound during the filling cycle usually indicates that the inlet valve needs to be replaced. Unless you’re handy with this sort of repair, this is a job for a professional repairperson.

Last but not least, you may need to adjust the amount of detergent you are using based on the hardness of your water. The chart below indicates the amount of detergent you should use based on the grains of minerals per gallon in your water. (Your water supplier can direct you to a lab to have your water tested if you do not know how hard it is.)