George Marks/Getty Images

People prize the quiet hum of a modern dishwasher.

When we shop for a dishwasher, one of the first things we look at is the noise rating.

They often included a food chopper that pulverized your leftover crumbs into tiny bits that washed down the drain.

Woman loading vintage dishwasher

Credit:George Marks/Getty Images

The blades grind up food intermittently during the wash cycle and can make a noticeable grinding noise or hum.

Despite the noise, food choppers have some advantages.

Pros And Cons Of A Filter

Dishwashers without a disposer can be extremely quiet.

The noise produced by some of the higher-end models is nearly undetectable to our ears.

On the other hand, filters can get clogged, which affects the performance of your dishwasher.

The clog can interfere with draining and cause odors.

You shouldclean your dishwasher filterat least once a month to prevent this from happening.

Consider whether one of these situations could be occurring: