Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator unusual noise

Loud sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. That means our repairmen know exactly how to diagnose the problem and fix it. Call Ware Appliance Repair today! The #1 refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a bit louder than normal there are a few simple place that you can look at while attempting to find a solution. There are several fans on a refrigerator that could create loud noises. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the sounds could be a broken a water valve.

There are a few obvious things that should be checked first. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too will often cause glass containers and other items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is on and creating a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water line connected, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s 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 just need to pull up the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the standard operating sound to seem a lot louder than it is. This is a result of the echoing of the sound of the refrigerator. Move it out a bit away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches from the rear wall to limit the noise.

If it’s not one of these simple and common fixes, it is time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Often times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. Once off you will see a fan behind it. If it’s full of dust and dirt, get a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils too. The coils are typically right there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a very common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do they spin easily? If they don’t the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before trying any of this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This is not usually the problem, as this fan is protected inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the area to look.

If you think it could be the compressor, the big, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling Ware Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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