Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means we know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and repair it. Call Buckner Appliance Repair today! The #1 CITY refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home is a little noisier than normal there are a few simple place that you can look at while trying to find the cause. There are many fans on a standard refrigerator that could create loud sounds. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is working, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic things that must be be checked. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too will often cause glass bottles and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This can cause a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and naturally creating a minor vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water line connected, be sure you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There’s almost always a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to lift the bar. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall, it might cause the normal running sound to seem much louder than it is. This is a result of the echo of the noise of the machine. Pull it out a bit away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches from the rear wall to lower the noise.

If it’s not one of these basic and easy fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and should be cleaned on a regular basis. If it gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need to have a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. As soon as it is exposed you’ll notice a fan in there. If it’s full of dust and dirt, grab a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils as well. These are usually right there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin easily? If they don’t it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before trying this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the problem, as this particular fan is protected by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to look.

If you think it might be the compressor, the big, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling Buckner 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