Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. That means we know exactly how to diagnose the problem and correct it. Call Rhodes Appliance Repair today! The #1 Massachusetts refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little louder than normal there are a few simple place that you can look at while attempting to find a solution. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that could create loud noises. The appliance might also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is working, the noises might be a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic things that need to be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too could cause glass jars and other items to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of loud noises inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby producing a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water hooked up, be sure you shut off the dispenser and ice maker. There is almost always a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed very close to a wall, it might cause the normal operating noise to seem a lot louder. This is due to the echoing of the sound of the machine. Slide the refrigerator out a bit from the kitchen wall and see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to lower the sound.

If it isn’t any of these basic and common fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that will often get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Many times 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 might wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. Once off you’ll see a fan inside. If it is full of dust and dirt, get a cloth 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 dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do they spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before doing any of this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer. This is not typically the issue, as this particular fan is protected inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the area to check.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the big, usually black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Rhodes 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