Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our technicians know just how to diagnose the problem and repair it. Call Giles Appliance Repair today! The #1 California refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home is a little noisier than normal there are a couple of easy things that you can check while trying to find the cause. There are several fans on a home refrigerator that often create loud noises. The refrigerator could also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is operating, the noises might be a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic things that need to be checked. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too can result in 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 on and producing a small 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 line connected, be sure you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There is almost always a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed 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 very close to a wall, it could cause the standard running sound to seem louder than it is. This is because of the echo of the sound of the machine. Slide the refrigerator out a bit from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches from the back wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it is not any of these simple and easy fixes, it is time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and needs to be cleaned often. If it gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside 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 behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s exposed you will see a fan inside. If it is covered in dirt and dust, take a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you are in there check the coils as well. The coils are typically right there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a common issue that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

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

If it’s possible it might be the compressor, the big, usually gray or black object under the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Giles 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