Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means our technicians know exactly how to troubleshoot the problem and repair it. Call Valor Appliance Repair today! The #1 Grapevine refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a bit louder than normal there are some simple place that you can check while trying to find a solution. There are several fans on a home refrigerator that could create strange noises. The appliance might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is operating, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious components that must be be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too can result in glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink together. This will cause a lot of unpleasant noises inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is on and creating a minor vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water hooked up, be positive you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There’s usually a button on the dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the normal running noise to seem louder than it really is. This is due to the echoing of the sound of the machine. Slide it out away from the wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the rear wall to reduce the sound.

If it’s not one of these basic and easier fixes, it’s time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that will often get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and should be cleaned regularly. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the back of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off. Once exposed you will see a fan inside. If it is covered in dust and dirt, take a rag and gently wipe it off. While you are in there you should check the coils too. These are usually near there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common problem that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

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

If it is possible that it could be the refrigerator compressor, the big, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling Valor Appliance Repair. 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