Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. This means our technicians know exactly how to diagnose the problem and fix it. Call Livermore Appliance Repair Pros today! The #1 local refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a bit noisier than usual there are a couple of simple place that you can check while attempting to find the answer. There are many fans on a standard refrigerator that might create loud noises. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is working, the sounds might be from a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic components that need to be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too could result in glass jars and other items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of unpleasant noises inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby creating a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water hooked up, be sure you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There is typically a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to pull up the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the normal running sound to seem a lot louder than it really is. This is a result of the echoing of the sound of the machine. Pull the refrigerator out a little away from the wall and see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches from the rear wall to lower the noise.

If it is not one of these simple and common fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the fans are the cause of a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust gets too heavy it can 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. Most of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. Once off you’ll see a fan in there. If it’s full of dirt and dust, find a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there check the coils too. The coils are typically right there and will be full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before doing this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t usually the issue, as this particular fan is protected within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that is the area to check.

If you think it could be the compressor, the large, usually gray or black object under the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling Livermore Appliance Repair Pros. That isn’t 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