Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. That means our technicians know just how to troubleshoot the issue and repair it. Call Wells Appliance Repair today! The #1 Fremont refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little noisier than usual there are a couple of easy things that you can look at while trying to find a solution. There are a lot of fans on a standard refrigerator that often create loud sounds. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is operating, the noises might be a broken a water valve.

There are a few obvious things that need to be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too might cause glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink together. This will create a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that isn’t 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 water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s typically a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to shut off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to pull up the bar. If the refrigerator is installed very close to a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the standard operating sound to seem a lot louder than it is. This is due to the echo of the noise of the machine. Move the refrigerator out a bit away from the kitchen wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches from the back wall to reduce the sound.

If it’s not any of these simple and easier fixes, it’s time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the 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 might wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator 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. Once off you will notice a fan behind it. If it is full of dust and dirt, find a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils as well. The coils are usually near there and will be full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a common issue that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a unit that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before you do 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 isn’t usually the issue, 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 compressor, the big, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Wells Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• How Does a Refrigerator Work?
• Ice Maker Not Working
• Water Dispenser Not Working
• Refrigerator Not Cooling