Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Loud sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. This means our technicians know exactly how to diagnose the problem and correct it. Call Appliance Repair Force today! The #1 refrigerator repair service in South and North Carolina.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a bit noisier than usual there are a few easy place that you can look at while attempting to find the answer. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that could create loud noises. The appliance could also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is working, the sounds could be a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious things that must be be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too could result in glass containers and other food items to clink together. This will create a lot of annoying noises inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is running and creating a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water line connected, be sure you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There’s typically a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall, it could cause the normal running sound to seem louder. This is a result of the echo of the noise of the machine. Pull it out a little away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches from the back wall to reduce the noise.

If it’s not any of these simple and easier fixes, it’s time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and then needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If the coating gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it is off you’ll see a fan behind it. If it’s full of dust and dirt, take a cloth and gently clean it off. While you are in there look at the coils too. The coils are typically right there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin freely? If they do not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before doing this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the problem, as this particular fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to check.

If it is possible that it might be the compressor, the large, typically gray or black object under the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Appliance Repair Force. That is not a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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