Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. That means we know exactly how to troubleshoot the problem and repair it. Call Wright Appliance Repair today! The #1 Alabama refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a bit noisier than it usually is there are a few easy place that you can look at while trying to find the answer. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that might create strange noises. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that’s wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is working, the sounds might be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two obvious things that should be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too can cause glass containers and other items to clink together. This can create a lot of unpleasant noises inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is running and naturally creating a minor vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water line connected, be positive you shut off the dispenser and ice maker. There is almost always a button on the dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall, it might cause the standard running sound to seem much louder. This is due to the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Pull it out a little away from the wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it’s not any of these simple and easier fixes, it’s 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 clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Many times the condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and needs to be cleaned often. If the coating builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the back of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need to have a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. Once off you will notice a fan inside. If it is covered in dirt and dust, grab a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there look at the coils too. The coils are typically near there and will be full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a common issue that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin easily? If they don’t 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 simply disconnecting it. But, before you do this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer. This is not typically the problem, as this particular fan is concealed by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the area to check.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, usually black or gray object under the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Wright Appliance Repair. That isn’t 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