Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. This means we know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and fix it. Call Shoreline Appliance Repair today! The #1 Orange County refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit noisier than usual there are a few simple things that you can look at while attempting to find the cause. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that often create loud sounds. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor that’s wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is working, the sounds might be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic components that must be be checked. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too could cause glass jars and other food items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of loud noises inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby producing a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water connected, be sure you turned off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There is typically a button on the water dispenser 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 is installed near a wall, it can sometimes cause the normal operating noise to seem louder than it is. This is a result of the echo of the sound of the refrigerator. Slide it out from the wall and see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to reduce the sound.

If it isn’t one of these basic and common fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Often times the condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and then needs to be cleaned regularly. If the dust gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need to have a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. Once off you will see a fan behind it. If it is covered in dust and dirt, grab a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you are in there check the coils too. The coils are usually right there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes but it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

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

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Shoreline Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• How Does a Refrigerator Work?
• Ice Maker Not Working
• Water Dispenser Not Working
• Refrigerator Not Cooling