Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means our technicians know exactly how to diagnose the issue and fix it. Call Freedom Appliance Repair today! The #1 Fontana refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your house is a bit louder than usual there are a few easy things that you can check while attempting to find a solution. There are many fans on a standard refrigerator that could create loud sounds. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the sounds might be a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic components that should be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too can result in glass containers and other items to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of unpleasant noises inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is on and naturally creating a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line hooked up, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s almost always a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to shut off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the standard operating sound to seem louder than it is. This is because of the echoing of the noise of the appliance. Slide 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 rear wall to limit the sound.

If it’s not one of these simple and easy fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Many times the condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and then needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If the coating gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator 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. Once off you’ll notice a fan in there. If it is full of dirt and dust, get a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils too. These are usually near 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 common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do the fan blades spin easily? If not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before attempting any of this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This is not usually the issue, as this fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to look.

If you think it could be the compressor, the big, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Freedom 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