Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Strange noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. That means our repairmen know just how to diagnose the problem and correct it. Call Boyle Appliance Repair today! The #1 CITY refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a little louder than normal there are some simple place that you can check while trying to find a solution. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that often create loud noises. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you could have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is operating, the sounds might be a broken a water valve.

There are some obvious components that need to be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too can result in glass jars and other foods and liquids to clink together. This can cause a lot of unpleasant noises inside of 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 you do not have the water hooked up, be sure you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There is typically a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall, it might cause the normal running noise to seem a lot louder than it really is. This is because of the echo of the noise of the appliance. Slide it out away from the kitchen wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches from the back wall of the kitchen to reduce the sound.

If it’s not any of these basic and easier fixes, it’s time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then needs to be cleaned often. If the coating builds up and gets too heavy it can 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 in the rear of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off. As soon as it is exposed you’ll see a fan behind it. If it is full of dirt and dust, find a rag and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there look at the coils as well. These are usually right there and will be covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a few minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin easily? If they do not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before you do any of this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the problem, as this fan is concealed by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the area to check.

If it’s possible it could be the compressor, the large, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Boyle Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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