Fast steady clicking during wash
A repeating tick or light knock while water is spraying, often changing when the racks are loaded differently.
Start here: Start with the spray arms, tall utensils, and anything hanging below the rack line.
Dishwasher noise troubleshooting
Dishwasher Clicking Noise
Direct answer: A dishwasher clicking noise is most often something simple: a spray arm tapping a tall item, debris around the filter or sump, or a normal drain check flap clicking during drain-out. The first job is to figure out exactly when the click happens.
Most likely: If the clicking starts during wash and changes as the racks move, look at the spray arms and dish loading first. If it happens only near drain-out, the drain path or check flap is the better lead.
Listen for timing before you take anything apart. A steady tick-tick during wash usually points to a spray arm striking something or catching on damage. A short burst of clicking at the end of a cycle can be normal drain hardware, but a harsh repeated click with poor cleaning or standing water means you need to check the filter and drain area. Reality check: a lot of 'bad motor' calls end up being one spoon handle in the wrong spot. Common wrong move: running cycle after cycle hoping the noise will clear itself while a spray arm keeps chewing into a dish or rack.
Don’t start with: Don't start by ordering a pump or control part just because the sound is annoying. Most clicking complaints turn out to be loading, debris, or a small plastic part in the wash path.
Clicks during washOpen the door mid-cycle and check whether a spray arm is hitting a utensil, plate edge, or fallen rack tine.
Clicks during drainCheck for standing water, a dirty filter, and a restricted drain path before blaming an internal motor.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-06
What kind of clicking are you hearing?
Clicking only near drain-out
The dishwasher sounds mostly normal, then clicks or chatters briefly when it starts draining.
Start here: Check the filter, sump opening, drain hose path, and whether water is left in the tub.
Single click every so often
You hear an occasional click but cleaning and draining still seem normal.
Start here: Look for a minor spray arm tap or a normal detergent cup or check flap sound before chasing parts.
Loud clicking with poor cleaning or standing water
The noise is stronger than usual and dishes come out dirty, or water remains at the bottom.
Start here: Go straight to the filter and lower wash area for debris, broken plastic, or a jammed impeller area.
Most likely causes
1. Spray arm hitting dishes, utensils, or a rack part
This is the most common dishwasher clicking noise. The sound is rhythmic and usually changes if you rearrange the load.
Quick check: Spin the upper and lower spray arms by hand with the racks loaded the way you normally run them. Look for anything that touches.
2. Debris in the filter or sump area
Seeds, glass chips, labels, and bone fragments can rattle or click as water moves through the lower wash area.
Quick check: Remove the lower rack, inspect the filter area, and look for hard debris around the sump opening.
3. Worn, split, or warped dishwasher spray arm
A damaged spray arm can wobble, clip a dish, or make a repeating click even with an empty rack.
Quick check: With power off, spin each spray arm slowly and look for cracks, looseness, or rub marks.
4. Drain check flap or drain path restriction
A brief click during drain can be normal, but repeated clicking with slow draining points to a partial blockage or a flap that is hanging up.
Quick check: Listen during the drain portion and then check whether water is left in the tub or backing up at the sink air gap.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Pin down when the clicking happens
The timing tells you whether you're chasing a wash-path problem, a drain-path problem, or a normal one-off sound.
- Run a short cycle and stay nearby for the first few minutes.
- Note whether the clicking starts during fill, wash spray, detergent release, or drain-out.
- If it's safe to do so, unlatch and open the door during the clicking. The sound stopping immediately usually points to a moving wash component rather than cabinet vibration.
- Look for standing water after the cycle if the clicking happens near the end.
Next move: You now have a narrower target. Wash-time clicking usually means spray arm or debris. Drain-time clicking points toward the drain path or check flap. If you cannot tell when it happens, move to the loading and spray arm checks first because they are the most common and least invasive.
What to conclude: A dishwasher that clicks only at one part of the cycle is usually giving you a location clue.
Stop if:
- You smell burning plastic or hot electrical odor.
- Water is leaking onto the floor.
- The noise is a harsh grinding or screeching instead of a click.
Step 2: Check the load and both dishwasher spray arms
A spoon handle, cutting board corner, or tall plate can make a perfectly regular clicking sound every time the arm comes around.
- Turn off the dishwasher and pull out the lower and upper racks enough to inspect the load.
- Look for utensils poking through the rack, lightweight lids flipped downward, and tall items near the center where the spray arms rotate.
- Spin the lower dishwasher spray arm by hand, then the upper dishwasher spray arm. They should turn freely without clipping anything.
- Look for shiny rub marks on dishes, rack coating, or the spray arm itself.
- Reposition the load and run a quick rinse cycle with fewer items if needed.
Next move: If the clicking disappears after rearranging the load, the dishwasher is fine and you just corrected a spray arm strike. If the clicking remains with an empty or lightly loaded machine, inspect for debris or spray arm damage next.
What to conclude: A rhythmic click that changes with loading is almost always contact between a rotating spray arm and something in its path.
Step 3: Clean the filter area and look for hard debris below the lower arm
Small hard pieces in the lower wash area can click, chatter, or bounce around long before they cause a full drain problem.
- Disconnect power or switch the dishwasher off at the breaker before reaching into the sump area.
- Remove the lower rack and take out the dishwasher filter if your model uses a removable filter.
- Rinse the filter under warm water and use mild soap if greasy residue is heavy.
- Inspect the sump opening and surrounding well for glass chips, fruit pits, labels, twist ties, or broken plastic pieces.
- Wipe the area clean and reinstall the filter securely so it seats flat.
Next move: If the clicking is gone, debris in the wash path was the cause. If the noise is still there, inspect the spray arms themselves for wear or damage.
Step 4: Inspect for a damaged dishwasher spray arm
A split seam, melted tip, or worn bearing surface can make a repeating click even with no dishes in the way.
- With power off, remove the lower dishwasher spray arm if it lifts off or unclips easily on your machine.
- Check for cracks along the seams, swollen plastic, missing end caps, or mineral buildup that makes the arm wobble.
- Inspect the upper dishwasher spray arm the same way, especially if the clicking seems higher in the tub.
- Look for a loose mounting hub or wear marks where the arm has been rubbing.
- If one arm is clearly damaged or warped, replace that dishwasher spray arm rather than forcing it to keep running.
Next move: A new spray arm usually solves a steady wash-time click when the old one is cracked, warped, or loose on its mount. If both spray arms look sound and the click happens during drain, move to the drain-path check. If the click is still unexplained, the wash pump area may need pro diagnosis.
Step 5: Check the drain path and decide whether to repair or call for service
Clicking during drain is often a flap or restriction issue, but once the sound points to an internal pump or motor, this stops being a guess-and-buy job.
- Run a short cycle to the drain portion and listen closely. A brief single click can be normal; repeated clicking with slow drain is not.
- After drain, check for water left in the bottom of the tub.
- Inspect the visible dishwasher drain hose path for kinks under the sink and check the sink air gap if your setup has one.
- If the dishwasher drains poorly and the hose is kinked, damaged, or clogged, correct that issue first.
- If draining is normal but the clicking is coming from low in the machine and persists with clean filters and clear spray arms, schedule service for likely pump or check-valve inspection.
A good result: If clearing a hose restriction or correcting a kink stops the noise and the dishwasher drains fully, you've fixed the problem without chasing internal parts.
If not: If the dishwasher still clicks from the pump area, especially with poor wash or drain performance, stop at diagnosis and have the pump section inspected.
What to conclude: Drain-time clicking with poor draining usually means a restriction or flap issue. Clicking from deep in the base with no obvious obstruction raises the odds of an internal pump problem.
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FAQ
Is a clicking dishwasher always a bad pump?
No. Most clicking complaints are simpler than that. A spray arm hitting a utensil, debris around the filter, or a brief drain check flap sound is more common than a failed pump.
Why does my dishwasher click only when it's washing?
That usually points to something rotating in the wash path. Start with the spray arms, dish placement, and any hard debris under the lower arm.
Why does my dishwasher click only when it drains?
A short click can be normal, but repeated clicking with slow draining usually means a partial blockage, a kinked dishwasher drain hose, or a flap hanging up in the drain path.
Can I keep using the dishwasher if it still clicks?
If it's a light spray arm tap and you corrected the load, yes. If the clicking is getting louder, leaving standing water, or coming from deep in the base, stop using it until you find the cause.
Should I replace the dishwasher spray arm if I only see a small crack?
Yes, if the crack is on the seam or the arm wobbles or rubs. Even a small split can change the spray pattern, make noise, and lead to poor cleaning.
What if the dishwasher clicks but still cleans fine?
An occasional single click may be normal, especially around detergent release or drain transition. A steady repeating click is worth checking now before it wears a spray arm, rack, or dish.