Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Strange noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. This means our technicians know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and fix it. Call Pride Vacaville Appliance Repair today! The #1 Vacaville refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a little louder than usual there are a few simple place that you can check while attempting to find the answer. There are many fans on a refrigerator that might create strange sounds. The refrigerator could 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 could be a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic components that need to be checked. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too could cause glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink together. This will create a lot of unpleasant sounds inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is running and creating a small vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line hooked up, be positive you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There is typically a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you need to pull up the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed very close to a wall, it will sometimes cause the normal running noise to seem louder. This is because of the echo of the sound of the refrigerator. Slide the refrigerator out away from the wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it is not one of these simple and common fixes, it’s time to dive on in. Most of the time, the fans are the cause of a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and needs to be cleaned often. 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

The first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the back of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. 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 are in there check the coils as well. The coils are typically right there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a very common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

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

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 Pride Vacaville Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES