Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. That means we know exactly how to diagnose the issue and fix it. Call Stone Appliance Repair today! The #1 CITY refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home is a bit louder than it usually is there are a couple of simple place that you can look at while attempting to find the answer. There are several fans on a refrigerator that often create loud noises. The refrigerator could also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are one or two obvious components that must be be checked. Like is the 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 of the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is on and thereby producing a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line hooked up, be sure you turned off the dispenser and the ice maker. There is typically a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall in the kitchen, it will sometimes cause the standard operating noise to seem a lot louder than it is. This is because of the echo of the noise of the machine. Pull it out a bit from the kitchen wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the back wall to reduce the noise.

If it isn’t any of these simple and common fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and should be cleaned often. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the back of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. As soon as it’s exposed you will see a fan in there. If it is covered in dirt and dust, get a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you are in there check the coils as well. The coils are typically near there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do they spin easily? If they do not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before you do any of this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically the issue, as this particular fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to check.

If it is possible that it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling Stone Appliance Repair. That’s 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