Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. This means we know exactly how to troubleshoot the problem and repair it. Call Elroy Appliance Repair today! The #1 Tennessee refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a little noisier than it usually is there are a couple of easy place that you can check while attempting to find the cause. There are many fans on a standard refrigerator that often create strange noises. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you could have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is operating, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of basic components that must be be checked. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too might result in glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This will cause a lot of unpleasant sounds inside of the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is running and producing a small vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line connected, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is usually a button on the dispenser that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the normal operating noise to seem louder. This is a result of the echoing of the noise of the appliance. Move it out a bit away from the wall and then see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches away from the back wall to lower the noise.

If it isn’t any of these simple and easier fixes, it is time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and needs to be cleaned often. If the coating gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. Once exposed you will see a fan behind it. If it is full of dirt and dust, get a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there check 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 will only take a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do they spin freely? If they do not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before you do any of this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer. This is not typically the issue, as this fan is protected within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to look.

If you think it might be the compressor, the large, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Elroy Appliance Repair. That’s not 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