Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Strange noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. That means our repairmen know exactly how to troubleshoot the problem and fix it. Call First-Class Duluth Appliance Repair today! The #1 Duluth refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little noisier than normal there are some simple place that you can look at while trying to find the cause. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that might create strange noises. The appliance could also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the sounds could be from a broken a water valve.

There are some obvious components that should be checked. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too might result in glass bottles and other food items to clink and clank together. This can cause a lot of unpleasant sounds inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and creating a minor vibration.

If you own a model of 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 dispenser and the ice maker. There’s almost always a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed really close to a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the normal running noise to seem a lot louder. This is due to the echoing of the noise of the appliance. Slide it out a little away from the kitchen wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches away from the rear wall of the kitchen to reduce the sound.

If it isn’t any of these simple and easy fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that will often get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then needs to be cleaned often. If it 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

First, the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s off you will see a fan in there. If it is full of dust and dirt, find a cloth and gently clean it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils as well. These are typically near there and full of the same grime and dust 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. Do the fan blades spin freely? If they don’t the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before trying this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the problem, as this particular fan is concealed within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the place to look.

If it’s possible it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling First-Class Duluth Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES