Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. This means we know just how to troubleshoot the problem and repair it. Call Goff Appliance Repair today! The #1 refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a little noisier than normal there are a couple of simple things that you can check while attempting to find the cause. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that could 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 much noisier when the ice maker is operating, the sounds might be from a broken a water valve.

There are a few obvious things that must be be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too will often result in glass containers and other items to clink together. This will cause a lot of loud sounds inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is on and producing a small vibration.

If you have a model of 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 ice maker. There’s usually a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to shut off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed really close to a wall, it might cause the standard operating noise to seem much louder than it is. This is a result of the echoing of the noise of the appliance. Pull the refrigerator out from the wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to lower 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 loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then should be cleaned regularly. If the coating 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 in the rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off. As soon as it’s exposed you will notice a fan inside. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, find a cloth and gently clean it off. While you’re in there check the coils as well. The coils are usually near there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the fan blades spin easily? If they do not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before you do this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically the problem, as this fan is concealed by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to check.

If it’s possible that it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Goff Appliance Repair. That is not 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