Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

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

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a little louder than normal there are a couple of easy place that you can look at while attempting to find the answer. There are a lot of fans on a home refrigerator that often create strange noises. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is working, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic things that should be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too could result in glass jars and other food items to clink together. This will create a lot of loud noises inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is running and producing a small vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water line hooked up, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed very close to a wall, it might cause the standard running noise to seem much louder. This is a result of the echoing of the sound of the refrigerator. Pull it out from the wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches away from the back wall to reduce the noise.

If it’s not one of these basic and easy fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Often times the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then should be cleaned regularly. If it 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 behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. Once off you’ll notice a fan inside. If it is full of dirt and dust, grab a rag and gently wipe it off. While you are in there check the coils too. These are typically right there and 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 more efficiently. This is a common problem that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do they spin easily? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a unit that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before you do this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer. This is not usually the issue, as this fan is protected by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to look.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Onward Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

Copyright ©2024  Onward Appliance Repair