Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Loud noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. That means {we|our technicians know just how to troubleshoot the issue and fix it. Call Rapid Rockford Appliance Repair today! The #1 Rockford refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit noisier than it usually is there are a few simple things that you can look at while trying to find the answer. There are a lot of fans on a refrigerator that often create strange noises. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is operating, the sounds could be a broken a water valve.

There are some basic components that should be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too will often result in glass bottles and other foods and liquids to clink together. This will cause a lot of loud sounds inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby producing a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line connected, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is usually a button on the dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed really close to a wall, it could cause the normal operating sound to seem louder. This is due to the echoing of the noise of the machine. Move the refrigerator out away from the wall and see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches from the back wall to limit the sound.

If it is not any of these basic and easy fixes, it is time to dive on in. Most of the time, the fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Often times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and then needs to be cleaned often. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it is exposed you will see a fan in there. If it’s covered in dust and dirt, find a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils as well. These are typically near there and will be full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the fan blades spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before trying any of this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This is not typically the problem, as this fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to look.

If it’s possible it might be the compressor, the large, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling Rapid Rockford Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES