Dishwasher Insulation Blanket: 12 Step Easy DIY Project
We all love some peace and quiet, don’t we? When you come home you probably expect it. You should be able to chat in the kitchen, watch TV, and fall asleep, all without interruption, right? Well, if you’re searching for anything related to a noisy dishwasher, chances are your home isn’t as quiet as you want.
But that’s easily remedied. With just a few quick steps, you can muffle the dishwasher and have your peace of mind. Sounds nice right? Let’s get the sound of silence back in your house.
Below, I’m going to go through the basic steps of soundproofing your dishwasher with an insulation blanket. It’s a matter of pulling out your dishwasher, adding insulation to the front door, and replacing the current (if any) insulation around the unit.
Let’s move on to the main part of the article where I’ll go over the process in detail.
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Related: How to soundproof a room with blankets
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Should you soundproof your dishwasher?
You don’t need to be an expert in home repair to complete this project.
Each step is simple and will not take much time.
If you have a little time and a few basic household tools, you can definitely handle this.
This is definitely something you want to do if your dishwasher is a distraction to you, your family, or pets.
Your dishwasher will be quieter; you will appreciate it more. You’ll be able to enjoy the quiet sounds of your home more.
What do you need to get started?
Some or most of these tools you will have.
The main item that you will probably need to purchase will be dishwasher insulation blanket. You will need enough to go in the main door panel, around the dishwasher, and behind it.
I would recommend reading through the instructions below and then making an insulation purchase.
- I’ll assume you have a dishwasher
- Screwdriver (most likely a Phillip’s Head)
- Cup to catch the screws
- Tape measure
- Razor or cutting instrument
- Needle nose pliers (or something similar)
- General adhesive sealant
- Insulation blanket (more on that below!)
There are many dishwasher insulation blanket types you could buy.
So, how do you decide which to choose? Here are the top 3 highest rated dishwasher insulation blankets on Amazon.com.
CM-Ceramics Morgan Ceramic Fiber Insulation and Knife
- Free shipping and returns
- 4.5 stars with over 330 ratings
- SPECIFICATIONS: Morgan Ceramics High Temp Insulation
- INFO: Data Sheets and Safety Instructions Included
- KNIFE INCLUDED: CM-Ceramics Knife So You Don’t Ruin Your Blade.
- USES: Perfect Insulation for Home Foundries, Forges, Kilns, Blacksmiths, Knife Making, Glass Blowing, Bead Making & Many More.
- SOURCE: Made in the USA
UniTherm Ceramic Fiber Insulation Blanket Roll
- Free Shipping
- 4.5 Stars with 33 ratings
- Double needled blanket
- Non-brittleness material, good flexibility
- Even density and thickness
- Non-organic binders, smoke free
- Lightweight fibers for various ranges of weight loads
Lynn Manufacturing Kaowool Ceramic Fiber Insulation
- Moderately priced
- 4.5 stars with 22 ratings
- Fireproof
- Made from Cerablanket, with high insulating value
As a bonus, here are two potential sealants to use.
Dap 00688 All-Purpose Adhesive Sealant
- 4.5 stars with 356 ratings
- Waterproof
- Stays flexible
- Won’t crack or shrink
- Non-toxic
GE GE284 Silicone 2+ Kitchen & Bath Sealant Caulk Squeeze Tube
- 4.5 stars, over 900 ratings
- 10-year mold-free product protection is resistant to odor and stain-causing mold and mildew growth
- Brand name: GE Momentive Performance Materials
- Country of Origin: United States
- Material: 100% Silicone
What are the steps involved? Is this going to be difficult?
Now that we’ve discussed potential materials involved, let’s explore the process. I recommend reading this over carefully and thinking through the process.
Do you have everything you need?
Do you have enough time to complete this? Would you prefer to pay someone?
After this article, you should be set to go, but it’s worth considering to be sure.
It may look like a lot of steps below, but that is only because I have broken them out into very small, specific steps to allow for maximum understanding, safety, and confidence.
As always, exercise extra precautions around anything electrical and the water hook-ups.
Related: Best Quiet Coffee Grinders
Step 1: Disconnect the power
Water and electricity do not mix, do they? So, let’s be extra cautious.
Shut off your circuit breaker.
Unplug the dishwasher from the power source if its accessible.
This will ensure safety and will make it easier to move the dishwasher. You may not be able to disconnect the power connection until you’ve pulled out the dishwasher, but it is good to keep in mind that it is there when you begin to remove the dishwasher.
Step 2: Shut off the Dishwasher’s Water Source
You don’t want water running while you’re doing this! If you get your insulation wet, it will likely degrade.
Again, if you cannot access the water connection now, be extra cautious when pulling out the dishwasher in the steps below.
It would be a good precaution to test your dishwasher now and ensure it’s no longer hooked up.
Step 3: Remove the dishwasher front panel
In most cases, the front door of a dishwasher is hollow. Better or newer models likely have it filled with insulation. But if you’re having sound issues, then chances are, yours lacks the insulations.
Removing the front panel may sound difficult, but it’s not don’t worry!
Start by opening the dishwasher door.
Use the screwdriver to remove all of the screws located inside the door.
Carefully remove the front panel and set it aside somewhere safe.
Now, close the door.
Step 4: Measure your front panel and cut the insulation
Be sure to measure the length, width, and depth of the front panel.
Depth is the most important.
You want to ensure your insulation fits snugly in the panel so it does not slide around.
Step 5: Carefully cut the insulation to fit
Be careful while doing this. If you cut wrong, you may wind up needing to order more insulation. Remember it is better to cut too long than too short.
Step 6: Insert Insulation
Gently insert the insulation into the front panel of the dishwasher.
Ensure it fits snugly on all sides and that it will do the same between the front and back wall of the door.
Empty space is an echo chamber and will magnify any noises coming from the dishwasher.
So, you want to ensure the insulation fits well without being crushed into the space.
Once it is in place, return the front panel to the dishwasher and screw it back in place. Ensure the screws are tight.
Open and close the door once or twice to ensure everything is in place.
Related: How to make your own DIY Sound Panels
Step 7: Pull the Dishwasher away from the wall
Remember what I said above.
Ensure your power and water are both turned off.
If you can’t disconnect those, remember that they are still attached and when you pull the dishwasher out, you will likely be pulling on those connections.
There also may be screws holding the dishwasher in place. Remove those and then slide the dishwasher out.
Just go slow and you should be fine.
Take note of any rust or indication of water leakage.
Unless your insulation is water-proof, water will affect its performance.
Step 8: Remove any pre-existing insulation.
Your dishwasher may already have insulation around it.
It may have gotten old and less effective. Or it may not have been very effective to begin with if you’re doing this now!
Your insulation may be attached with a rivet, which you can remove using the needle-nose pliers.
Don’t throw away the insulation. You’ll want to use it too.
Ideally you will wrap it over your new insulation for a double layer.
Step 9: Measure and cut the blanket
With the right measurements in place, carefully wrap the blanket around the sides and top of the dishwasher.
Reattach with the original rivets if they’re still in good condition.
Step 10: Don’t throw away the old insulation. Double up!
Wrap the original insulation over the new insulation.
If the old insulation has broken down due to wear and tear, you may wish to discard it.
But ideally you will add it as extra layer over your new insulation.
Step 11: Don’t forget the back!
Dishwashers will often knock against the back wall.
You will want to add a layer of insulation back there as well if possible.
Measure the dimensions of the back wall of the dishwasher; take note of any connections that may need to be cut around.
Cut another strip of insulation.
You can attach this to the back of the dishwasher using the sealant.
Step 12: Reconnect and return to its original place
Double check everything.
- Is the insulation snugly in place around the dishwasher?
- Has the sealant dried and is the back insulation securely in place?
- Does the space behind the dishwasher need to be cleaned out?
- Any sign of water leakage or anything else?
Once you’ve done all of that, carefully reattach the power and water.
Slowly, slide the unit back into place.
Double check the front door panel.
Related: How to make a soundproof box
Dishwasher Insulation Blanket Installation: Conclusion
Congrats, you did it!
Now turn the water and power back on and give the dishwasher a test run.
You should be basking in the new quietness of your house.
Hopefully, you will find it much more enjoyable.
Assuming you read this through once to get a sense of the steps, you’ll need to now get the equipment mentioned in the process.
You can have the dishwasher insulation blanket shipped directly to your door.
Above you’ll find links to the recommended materials on Amazon.
Make sure the one you choose will allow for the proper dimensions to your dishwasher unit.
Good luck!
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