Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. This means our technicians know just how to troubleshoot the issue and correct it. Call Cross Appliance Repair today! The #1 CITY refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house is a little noisier than normal there are a few simple place that you can look at while trying to find a solution. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that could create strange noises. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic components that must be be checked. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too can sometimes cause glass jars and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This can cause a lot of unpleasant sounds inside of the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and producing a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water hooked up, be positive you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There’s almost always a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to shut off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the standard operating sound to seem a lot louder than it is. This is a result of the echoing of the noise of the refrigerator. Move the refrigerator out a bit away from the wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches from the rear wall to lower the noise.

If it isn’t one of these basic and easier 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 will often get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then needs to be cleaned often. If it builds up and gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off. As soon as it is exposed you’ll see a fan inside. If it is covered in dust and dirt, find a rag and gently clean 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 only takes a few minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a common issue that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do the blades spin freely? If not 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 attempting this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This is not typically the problem, as this fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to look.

If it’s possible it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling Cross 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