Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. This means we know just how to diagnose the problem and fix it. Call Pierce Appliance Repair today! The #1 CITY refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your house is a bit noisier than usual there are a couple of easy things that you can check while trying to find the cause. There are a lot of fans on a refrigerator that might create strange sounds. The appliance might also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is operating, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are some basic things that must be be checked. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too could result in glass jars and other foods and liquids to clink together. This will create a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby creating a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water hooked up, be positive you shut off the dispenser and ice maker. There is almost always a button on the water dispenser that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the standard running sound to seem louder than it is. This is because of the echo of the sound of the refrigerator. Slide the refrigerator out away from the wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches from the rear wall to limit the noise.

If it isn’t any 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 refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then should be cleaned on a regular basis. If the coating gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off. As soon as it’s exposed you will notice a fan inside. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, take a rag and gently wipe it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils too. The coils are usually right there and will be full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before you do this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer. This is not typically the issue, as this particular fan is protected within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to check.

If you think it might be the compressor, the big, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling Pierce Appliance Repair. That’s not 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