Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

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

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a little noisier than usual there are a couple of easy things that you can check while trying to find a solution. There are many fans on a refrigerator that might create strange sounds. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is working, the sounds could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious components that need to be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too will often cause glass bottles and other items to clink together. This will cause a lot of loud noises inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and creating a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water hooked up, be positive you shut off the dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to turn off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall, it might cause the normal running sound to seem a lot louder. This is due to the echoing of the noise of the machine. Slide it out a bit away from the wall and then see if that helps at all. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches from the back wall to lower the sound.

If it’s not one of these simple and easy fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that will often get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Many times the condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. As soon as it’s exposed you will notice a fan behind it. If it’s full of dirt and dust, find a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there check the coils as well. These are usually near there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a couple of 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 they spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before doing any of this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically the issue, as this fan is protected by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that is the place to look.

If you think it could be the compressor, the big, typically gray or black object under the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling BRAND. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• How Does a Refrigerator Work?
• Ice Maker Not Working
• Water Dispenser Not Working
• Refrigerator Not Cooling