Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. That means our technicians know just how to troubleshoot the issue and fix it. Call Carrollton Appliance Repair today! The #1 Carrollton refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a little louder than usual there are a few simple place that you can look at while attempting to find the answer. There are several fans on a home refrigerator that might create strange noises. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the sounds could be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic things that must be be checked. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too could cause glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of unpleasant noises inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby creating a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water hooked up, be positive you shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is almost always a button on the water dispenser that can be used to shut off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed really close to a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the normal running sound to seem louder. This is because of the echo of the noise of the machine. Pull the refrigerator out a bit from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the back wall to reduce the sound.

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

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is to unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the rear of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. Once exposed you will notice a fan behind it. If it is covered in dirt and dust, find a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there look at the coils too. The coils are usually near there and will be covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin freely? If not it means 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. However, before doing any of this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the problem, as this fan is concealed within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to check.

If you think it could be the compressor, the large, typically gray or black object under the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling Carrollton Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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