Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

 

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

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a little louder than usual there are a couple of easy place that you can check while attempting to find a solution. There are several fans on a refrigerator that could create loud sounds. The appliance could also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic things that need to be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too could result in glass bottles and other items to clink together. This will cause a lot of unpleasant noises inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is on and producing a minor 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 shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There’s almost always a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as 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 might cause the standard running sound to seem louder than it is. This is because of the echoing of the noise of the refrigerator. Move it out a bit from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches from the back wall to reduce the sound.

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

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. Once exposed you’ll notice a fan in there. If it’s full of dirt and dust, take a cloth and gently clean it off. While you are in there look at the coils too. The coils are usually near there and will be covered in the same dust and grime 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 problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the fan blades spin freely? If they do not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before attempting any of this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the issue, as this particular fan is protected within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that is the place to check.

If it is possible that it could be the refrigerator compressor, the big, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Powell Appliance Repair. That is not 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