Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our repairmen know just how to diagnose the issue and fix it. Call Halo Appliance Repair today! The #1 CITY refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit noisier than normal there are a few simple place that you can look at while attempting to find the answer. There are a lot of fans on a refrigerator that might create loud sounds. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is operating, the sounds might be a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious things that should be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too might cause glass containers and other items to clink and clank together. This will cause a lot of unpleasant sounds inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is running and naturally producing a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water line connected, be positive you shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There’s typically a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the normal operating noise to seem much louder than it is. This is a result of the echo of the sound of the refrigerator. Move the refrigerator out a little from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches away from the rear wall to limit the sound.

If it’s not any of these basic and easy fixes, it is time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and needs to be cleaned regularly. If the coating builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator 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 behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. Once exposed you’ll see a fan in there. If it’s full of dirt and dust, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils too. These are typically near there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a couple of minutes but it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a very common problem that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do they spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before doing any of this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer. This isn’t usually the problem, as this fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the area to check.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Halo Appliance Repair. That is not 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