Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. That means our repairmen know just how to troubleshoot the issue and correct it. Call Storm Appliance Repair today! The #1 refrigerator repair.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a little noisier than normal there are a few simple place that you can check while attempting to find the cause. There are several fans on a home refrigerator that often create strange sounds. The appliance might also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor that’s wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is working, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are some basic things that should be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too can result in glass containers and other items to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is running and producing a minor vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water line hooked up, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s almost always a button on the dispenser that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it can sometimes cause the standard running noise to seem much louder than it is. This is because of the echoing of the sound of the appliance. Pull the refrigerator out away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches from the back wall to lower the noise.

If it’s not any of these basic and easy fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the fans are the reason for a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and should be cleaned regularly. If it builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need to have a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. Once exposed you’ll notice a fan inside. If it is full of dust and dirt, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils as well. These are usually near there and will be full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do they spin freely? If they don’t the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before doing any of this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically the issue, as this particular fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the place to look.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling Storm Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• How Does a Refrigerator Work?
• Ice Maker Not Working
• Water Dispenser Not Working
• Refrigerator Not Cooling