Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means our technicians know just how to diagnose the issue and correct it. Call Spencer Appliance Repair today! The #1 CITY refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit noisier than normal there are some simple place that you can look at while trying to find the cause. There are many fans on a refrigerator that often create strange noises. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is working, the noises might be a broken a water valve.

There are some basic things that need to be checked first. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too could result in glass containers and other items to clink together. This will cause a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby producing a small vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line connected, be positive you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There’s usually a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall, it might cause the standard operating sound to seem much louder than it is. This is due to the echoing of the noise of the appliance. Pull it out a little away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it’s not one of these basic and easier fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan 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 regularly. If it builds up and gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is to unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off. As soon as it’s off you’ll notice a fan inside. If it’s full of dust and dirt, get a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you are in there check the coils as well. These are typically near there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common problem that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the fan blades spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before you do any of this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the issue, as this fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to look.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Spencer Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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