Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Strange sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means we know exactly how to troubleshoot the problem and repair it. Call Cole 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 usual there are some simple place that you can check while trying to find a solution. There are a lot of fans on a home refrigerator that could create loud noises. The appliance might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor that’s wearing down. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises might be a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic components that should be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too could cause glass jars and other items to clink together. This can cause a lot of loud noises inside of the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and naturally producing a minor vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water line connected, be positive you shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There’s usually a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator 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, it will sometimes cause the standard running sound to seem much louder. This is due to the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Slide the refrigerator out away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches away from the rear wall to lower the sound.

If it’s not one of these basic and easy fixes, it’s time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. 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. Sometimes the condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and should be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust 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 unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the rear of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. As soon as it’s exposed you will see a fan inside. If it’s covered in dust and dirt, grab a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there check the coils as well. The coils are usually right there and will be full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a couple of minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do they spin easily? If not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before you do this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically 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 refrigerator that is the place to check.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the big, usually gray or black object under the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling Cole Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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