Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

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

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a bit louder than normal there are a few easy place that you can check while trying to find the cause. There are several fans on a home refrigerator that could create loud noises. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are some basic things that must be be checked. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too will often cause glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of loud sounds inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and naturally 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 connected, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There’s usually a button on the dispenser that can be used to turn off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall, it might cause the normal operating noise to seem much louder. This is due to the echoing of the sound of the machine. Slide it out a little away from the kitchen wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches from the back wall to lower the noise.

If it’s not one of these basic and common fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the fans are the cause of a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator 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 will sometimes 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 typically located behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s exposed you will see a fan in there. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there look at the coils as well. The coils are typically right there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a common issue that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is typically a unit that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before you do any of this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This is not typically the issue, as this particular fan is concealed by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to check.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling Dawson’s Appliance Repair. That is not 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