Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator unusual noise

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. This means our repairmen know just how to diagnose the problem and repair it. Call Factory Appliance Repair today! The #1 refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a bit noisier than normal there are a few easy place that you can check while trying to find the answer. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that might create loud noises. The appliance might also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is making ice, the sounds could be a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic components that should be checked. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too can result in glass containers and other items to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of unpleasant noises inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is running and naturally creating a small vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water hooked up, be sure you turned off the dispenser and the ice maker. There is almost always a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall, it can cause the normal running noise to seem louder than it is. This is a result of the echoing of the noise of the appliance. Pull the refrigerator out a little from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches away from the back wall to lower the noise.

If it isn’t any of these simple and common fixes, it is time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned on a regular basis. If it gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it is off you’ll see a fan inside. If it’s covered in dust and dirt, grab a rag and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there you should check the coils as well. These are usually near there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a few minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run 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 fan blades spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before doing this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the problem, as this particular fan is protected inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to look.

If it’s possible it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling Factory Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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