Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

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

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit noisier than normal there are a couple of easy place that you can look at while trying to find the answer. There are several fans on a home refrigerator that often create strange sounds. The refrigerator could also not be balanced too. Or you could have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is working, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two obvious things that should be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too could result in glass bottles and other items to clink and clank together. This will cause a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and creating a small vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water connected, be sure you shut off the dispenser and ice maker. There is almost always a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it will sometimes cause the normal operating sound to seem louder than it really is. This is a result of the echoing of the noise of the refrigerator. Slide the refrigerator out from the kitchen wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches away from the rear wall to limit the noise.

If it isn’t any of these simple and easier fixes, it is time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. Often times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and needs to be cleaned regularly. If the dust gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is to unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. Once off you’ll notice a fan inside. If it is full of dust and dirt, get a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils too. The coils are usually near there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the blades spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, 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 this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the issue, as this fan is protected by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the area to check.

If it’s possible that it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling Precise Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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