Thread Number: 81570  /  Tag: Modern Dishwashers
Custom Sound Insulating My PowerClean
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Post# 1055971   12/30/2019 at 13:13 (1,549 days old) by murando531 (Augusta, Georgia - US)        

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Over the last year I've been researching different sound dampening/absorbing materials that could be used in an appliance setting, and earlier this year discovered Noico self-adhering mastic. I first gave it a shot with the Whirlpool 520 model dishwasher I bought in Feb of this year to stay with the house when we move, and lined the inner door panel and the top and three side walls. It made a WORLD of difference, given that the middle-lower tier models have not much sound dampening to begin with. It went from sounding like an old GE plastic-fantastic spray tower dishwasher to being as quiet and muffled as the 920 model and KitchenAid I had.

I also used a few sheets on the top load washer/dryer set I had temporarily that is now in storage, but just a panel on each of the cabinet walls and back panel, as well as panels strategically placed inside the dryer walls and floor in places that won't be near direct heat, made a HUGE difference in the sound and feel of both machines. Opening/closing the lid of the washer or door of the dryer made a solid "thunk", all the "tinny", echoey sheet metal sounds disappeared, and it made a difference in operating noise as well, because it absorbs a lot of the higher frequency vibrations and sounds that normally carry, and what was left is just low, relaxing hums and muffled sounds of clothes movement.

So naturally, as my PowerClean is my pride and joy and I've put a ton of work into getting it to "brand new" condition, updating it with the newer racks, wash arms, basket, etc., of the newer PC models, I've also challenged myself to bring it up to Quiet Partner III or IV standards. So I ordered another box and got to work, cleaning the old padding I had installed in the inner door out and lined it with the Noico, as well as the entire top, sides, and back, and a few strips on the inside of the kick panels, under the existing fiberglass batting. I still put the original outer insulation jacket back on afterwards, because why not?

The result? It sounds like a completely different machine, but in the best ways. Again, it doesn't "silence" it, nor is that my intended purpose, but instead it absorbs all those high frequency soundwaves and vibrations that are perceived as tinny or hollow or high pitched. The best example of this was drumming my fingers on the inside of the door after the mastic was installed versus drumming on the outer tub that hadn't been done yet. It removes the louder splashy sounds of the water hammering against the tub walls and muffles them down to a nice sloshing sound that doesn't carry into the living room. I suspect that it also absorbs vibrations coming from the motor, because while it still has that signature PowerClean sound, it's very low and therapeutic in a way. Before this, when the PC would be installed, it was by no means loud enough that anyone had to raise their voice even slightly, but you knew it was running if you were sitting in the living room watching TV. Now, you can barely make out the low humming from that far away. At this point now, the loudest operating noise is the hiss of the fill valve and that first "doo-wssshhh" when the motor first starts. But I'm absolutely enamored by the results. I didn't think I could love this machine or be more proud of it but I was wrong.

Pic 1, 2: Outer tub before
Pic 3: Inner door panel
Pic 4, 5: Exterior after
Pic 6: A happy PowerClean :)


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Post# 1055981 , Reply# 1   12/30/2019 at 15:25 (1,549 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
You made it a

"Quietpartner" model.


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