Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means our repairmen know just how to diagnose the problem and repair it. Call Anytime Arlington Appliance Repair today! The #1 Arlington refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit noisier than it usually is there are a few simple things that you can look at while trying to find the answer. There are a lot of fans on a standard refrigerator that might create strange noises. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is working, the sounds could 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’s too will often cause glass containers and other items to clink together. This can create a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby producing a small vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water hooked up, be sure you turned off the dispenser and ice maker. There’s usually a button on the water dispenser that can be used to turn off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall, it might cause the standard running noise to seem louder than it is. This is due to the echo of the noise of the machine. Slide the refrigerator out a bit away from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches from the back wall of the kitchen to limit the sound.

If it isn’t any of these basic and easier fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and should be cleaned regularly. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is to unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. As soon as it is exposed you will notice a fan inside. If it’s full of dust and dirt, get a cloth and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils as well. These are usually right there and full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common issue that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do the blades spin easily? If they don’t it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before you do this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the problem, as this particular fan is concealed by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the area to look.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically gray or black object under the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling Anytime Arlington 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