Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means we know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and repair it. Call Fox Appliance Repair today! The #1 Pueblo refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house is a little louder than usual there are a few simple things that you can look at while trying to find the cause. There are several fans on a home refrigerator that often create loud noises. The appliance might also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is operating, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic things that need to be checked first. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too can result in glass bottles and other items to clink and clank together. This will cause a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is running and producing a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water connected, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is usually a button on the dispenser that can be used to turn off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the normal running noise to seem much louder. This is because of the echoing of the sound of the refrigerator. Slide it out from the wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to lower the sound.

If it isn’t any of these simple and easier fixes, it is time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then needs to be cleaned regularly. If the coating gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside 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 behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. As soon as it is off you’ll see a fan inside. If it is full of dirt and dust, get a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there look at the coils too. These are typically right there and will be full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a couple of minutes but it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the blades spin easily? If they don’t it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before trying any of this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer unit. This is not typically the problem, as this fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the place to check.

If it’s possible that it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Fox 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