Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator unusual noise

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our technicians know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and correct it. Call Ericson Appliance Repair today! The #1 refrigerator repair.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house is a little noisier than it usually is there are a few easy things that you can look at while trying to find the answer. There are many fans on a refrigerator that might create strange noises. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is operating, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic components that need to be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too will often result in glass bottles and other items to clink together. This will cause a lot of unpleasant sounds inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is on and thereby creating a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water connected, be positive you turned off the dispenser and the ice maker. There’s usually a button on the water dispenser that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the bar. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the standard running sound to seem much louder than it is. This is because of the echoing of the noise of the machine. Move it out a little away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches away from the back wall to reduce the noise.

If it is not any of these simple and easier fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned on a regular basis. If the coating gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is to unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the back of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. Once exposed you’ll see a fan behind it. If it’s full of dust and dirt, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should check the coils too. The coils are typically near there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin freely? If they do not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before trying any of this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer. This is not typically the issue, as this particular fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the area to check.

If you think it might be the compressor, the large, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling Ericson Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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