Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means our technicians know exactly how to diagnose the problem and correct it. Call Vance Appliance Repair today! The #1 Texas refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house is a bit noisier than usual there are some easy place that you can check while trying to find the answer. There are several fans on a refrigerator that often create strange noises. The appliance might also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the sounds could be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic components that must be be checked first. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too can cause glass jars and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of unpleasant noises inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is on and thereby creating a small vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line connected, be sure you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There’s almost always a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall, it can sometimes cause the normal operating noise to seem a lot louder. This is a result of the echoing of the sound of the refrigerator. Move the refrigerator out a bit away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches from the rear wall to reduce the sound.

If it is not one of these simple and easy fixes, it is time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and then needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. 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 usually located in the rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. Once exposed you’ll notice a fan behind it. If it’s covered in dust and dirt, find a rag and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there check the coils too. The coils are typically near there and will be full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the fan blades spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before trying any of this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not typically the issue, as this particular fan is protected inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the area to look.

If you think it could be the compressor, the big, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Vance 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