Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Strange noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. That means our technicians know exactly how to troubleshoot the problem and repair it. Call Fort Smith Appliance Repair today! The #1 Fort Smith refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house is a bit noisier than normal there are a few easy place that you can look at while attempting to find the answer. There are a lot of fans on a refrigerator that often create loud noises. The refrigerator could also not be balanced too. Or you could have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises might be a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic things that must be be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too could cause glass jars and other food items to clink together. This will cause a lot of loud sounds inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is running and creating a small vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water connected, be sure you turned off the dispenser and ice maker. There’s typically a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall, it will sometimes cause the normal running sound to seem louder. This is because of the echoing of the noise of the appliance. Move the refrigerator out from the kitchen wall and see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to lower the noise.

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

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. As soon as it is exposed you will see a fan behind it. If it’s full of dirt and dust, find a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils as well. The coils are typically right there and will be covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a few minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the blades spin freely? If they don’t it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before trying any of this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the issue, as this fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to look.

If you think it could be the compressor, the big, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Fort Smith Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES