Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. That means we know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and repair it. Call Rowe Appliance Repair today! The #1 CITY refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little louder than usual there are a few simple things that you can look at while trying to find a solution. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that often create loud noises. The appliance could also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the sounds could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a few obvious components that should be checked. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too will often result in glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink together. This can create a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby producing a small vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water line connected, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There is 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 need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall, it could cause the standard operating noise to seem much louder than it really is. This is due to the echoing of the sound of the refrigerator. Move it out a bit from the kitchen wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches from the back wall of the kitchen to reduce the noise.

If it is not any of these simple and easy fixes, it’s time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that will often get clogged and dirty. There are times 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 gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and should be cleaned often. If the dust 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 back of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off. Once exposed you will notice a fan behind it. If it is covered in dirt and dust, grab a cloth and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should check the coils as well. The coils are usually right there and full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a few minutes and it will certainly 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 the fan blades spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before doing this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer. This isn’t usually the problem, as this particular fan is concealed by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to check.

If it is possible it might be the compressor, the big, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Rowe 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