Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. That means we know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and correct it. Call EZ Appliance Repair today! The #1 Missouri refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit louder than normal there are a couple of simple place that you can check while attempting to find a solution. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that might create strange sounds. The appliance might also not be balanced too. Or you could have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is working, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious things that must be be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too could cause glass containers and other items to clink and clank together. This will cause a lot of annoying noises inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is on and naturally creating a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water connected, be sure you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There’s typically a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall, it might cause the normal running sound to seem a lot louder than it really is. This is because of the echo of the sound of the refrigerator. Slide it out a little away from the kitchen wall and see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches away from the rear wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it’s not any of these simple and common fixes, it’s 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 clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned regularly. If it 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, unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the rear of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need to have a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. Once exposed you’ll see a fan behind it. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils as well. The coils are typically right there and will be covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do the fan blades spin freely? If they do not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is typically a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before trying any of this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This isn’t usually the problem, as this fan is protected within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to check.

If it is possible that it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, usually gray or black object under the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling EZ Appliance Repair. That’s 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