Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means our technicians know exactly how to diagnose the issue and correct it. Call National City Appliance Repair today! The #1 National CIty refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a bit louder than it usually is there are a few easy things that you can look at while trying to find the answer. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that could create strange noises. The appliance might also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is working, the noises might be a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic components that should be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too can result in glass jars and other food items to clink together. This will cause a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby producing a small vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water connected, be positive you turned off the dispenser and the ice maker. There’s almost always a button on the dispenser that can be used to shut off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to pull up the bar. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall, it can cause the normal running sound to seem much louder than it is. This is a result of the echoing of the noise of the machine. Pull it out a little away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches from the back wall to reduce the noise.

If it is not any of these simple and easy fixes, it is time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the fans are the reason for a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. Often times the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Many times the condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and needs to be cleaned often. If it gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need to have a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. As soon as it is exposed you’ll notice a fan inside. If it’s full of dirt and dust, find a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils as well. These are usually near there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the fan blades spin easily? If not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before you do any of this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This is not usually the problem, as this particular fan is protected by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the place to look.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, typically gray or black object under the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling National City Appliance Repair. That is not 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