Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

loud noises of refrigerator

Loud sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means our technicians know just how to troubleshoot the problem and repair it. Call Choice Appliance Repair today! The #1 Cypress refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little noisier than usual there are some easy place that you can check while attempting to find a solution. There are a lot of fans on a standard refrigerator that often create loud noises. The appliance might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is working, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are some basic components that must be be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too might result in glass bottles and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of loud noises inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is on and thereby creating a minor vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water line hooked up, be positive you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s usually a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed very close to a wall, it will cause the normal running noise to seem much louder than it is. This is because of the echoing of the noise of the refrigerator. Pull the refrigerator out from the wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches away from the rear wall to limit the sound.

If it is not one of these simple and easy fixes, it is time to dive on in. Most of the time, the fans are the cause of a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that will often get dirty and clogged. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes 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 gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside the 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 back of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it is exposed you will notice a fan behind it. If it is covered in dust and dirt, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there check the coils too. These are typically right there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin freely? If they don’t it means the fan motor bearings are broken. 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 you do this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the issue, as this fan is concealed within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the place to check.

If it’s possible that it might be the compressor, the big, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Choice Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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