Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means our technicians know just how to diagnose the problem and correct it. Call Peerless Appliance Repair today! The #1 Grand Prairie refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a little louder than usual there are some simple place that you can check while trying to find the cause. There are several fans on a refrigerator that often create loud sounds. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is operating, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic components that must be be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too might cause glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink together. This can create a lot of annoying sounds inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and creating a small vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water hooked up, be sure you turned off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s typically a button on the water dispenser that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall, it could cause the standard operating noise to seem much louder than it really is. This is a result of the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Pull it out a bit away from the wall and then see if that helps at all. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the back wall to limit the noise.

If it isn’t one of these basic and common fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. Often times the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and needs to be cleaned often. If it gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s off you will notice a fan in there. If it is full of dirt and dust, get a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there you should check the coils too. These are typically near there and will be covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do the blades spin freely? If they do not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is typically a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before you do any of this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the issue, as this particular fan is concealed by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to check.

If it is possible that it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling Peerless Appliance Repair. 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