Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means we know just how to troubleshoot the issue and fix it. Call Rogers Appliance Repair today! The #1 Alabama refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little noisier than normal there are a few simple place that you can look at while attempting to find the cause. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that might create loud noises. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is much noisier 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. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too might cause glass bottles and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of loud noises inside of the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is running and producing a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water line connected, be positive you shut 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 water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed very close to a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the standard operating sound to seem louder than it is. This is because of the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Slide it out from the wall and see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to lower the sound.

If it is not one of these basic and easy fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the fans are the cause of a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that will often get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz 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 refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, 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 off you will notice a fan behind it. If it is full of dust and dirt, get a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there check the coils as well. These are typically right there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes 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 do not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is typically a unit that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before attempting any of this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t usually the issue, as this fan is protected inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to check.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Rogers 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