Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

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

A loud refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a little louder than usual there are a few simple place that you can look at while attempting to find the cause. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that could create loud sounds. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is operating, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are some basic things that need to be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too could cause glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of unpleasant noises inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is on and thereby creating a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water hooked up, be sure you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There’s typically a button on the dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you need to lift the bar. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the normal operating sound to seem much louder than it really is. This is due to the echo of the sound of the machine. Move it out a bit away from the wall and see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches away from the back wall to limit the sound.

If it’s not one of these simple and common fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned often. If it builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

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

Spin the fan blades. Do the fan blades spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before you do any of this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer. This isn’t usually the issue, as this particular fan is concealed by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the area to check.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Valor Appliance Repair. That is not 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