Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Strange noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means {we|our repairmen know exactly how to diagnose the problem and fix it. Call Heritage Appliance Repair Pros today! The #1 Marietta refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your home is a little louder than usual there are a couple of simple things that you can check while attempting to find the cause. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that often create loud sounds. The appliance might also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic components that should be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too could result in glass jars and other items to clink together. This will create a lot of loud sounds inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby creating a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water hooked up, be sure you turned off the dispenser and ice maker. There’s usually a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed really close to a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the standard running sound to seem louder. This is a result of the echo of the noise of the appliance. Move it out a little from the kitchen wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches from the rear wall to limit the noise.

If it’s not any of these simple and easier fixes, it is time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Often times the condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and needs to be cleaned often. 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, the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. Once exposed you’ll see a fan in there. If it is full of dirt and dust, take a rag and gently wipe it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils too. These are usually near there and full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before doing any of this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically 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, when the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to check.

If you think it could be the compressor, the large, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Heritage Appliance Repair Pros. That’s not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES