Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means we know just how to troubleshoot the problem and correct it. Call Marion Appliance Repair today! The #1 Louisiana refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little louder than usual there are a couple of easy things that you can look at while attempting to find the answer. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that could create loud noises. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that’s wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are some basic things that must be be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too might result in glass jars and other food items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of unpleasant sounds inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is running and creating a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line connected, be positive you shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is usually 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 just need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed really close to a wall, it might cause the normal running noise to seem a lot louder. This is due to the echoing of the noise of the refrigerator. Slide it out a bit from the wall and then see if that helps at all. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to reduce the noise.

If it is not one of these basic and common fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that will often get dirty and clogged. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Often times the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and needs to be cleaned regularly. 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

The first thing to do is to unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the rear of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. Once off you’ll notice a fan in there. If it’s full of dust and dirt, grab a rag and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils too. The coils are usually near there and full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a couple of minutes but 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 in the refrigerator. Do they spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before attempting this, be sure 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 particular fan is protected inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to look.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling Marion Appliance Repair. That is not 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