Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means our repairmen know just how to troubleshoot the issue and fix it. Call Green Appliance Repair today! The #1 CITY refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little noisier than usual there are some simple things that you can look at while attempting to find the answer. There are several fans on a refrigerator that often create strange sounds. The appliance could also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is operating, the sounds might be a broken a water valve.

There are some obvious components that must be be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too could result in glass containers and other food items to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of annoying sounds inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is on and naturally creating a small vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water hooked up, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There’s typically a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall in the kitchen, it will sometimes cause the standard operating noise to seem a lot louder than it really is. This is due to the echo of the sound of the refrigerator. Move the refrigerator out a little away from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches from the back wall of the kitchen to reduce the noise.

If it isn’t one of these simple and easy fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and should be cleaned often. If the dust gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. Once exposed you will notice a fan inside. If it is full of dust and dirt, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there check the coils too. The coils are typically right there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do the fan blades spin easily? If not the fan motor bearings are not working. 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. But, before you do any of this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the issue, as this particular fan is concealed by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the area to look.

If you think it might be the compressor, the large, usually gray or black object under the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling Green Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• How Does a Refrigerator Work?
• Ice Maker Not Working
• Water Dispenser Not Working
• Refrigerator Not Cooling