Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means we know just how to troubleshoot the problem and fix it. Call Tyson’s Appliance Repair today! The #1 CITY refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a bit louder than usual there are a couple of easy things that you can check while trying to find the cause. There are several fans on a refrigerator that might create loud sounds. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is working, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of basic components that need to be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too could result in glass containers and other items to clink together. This will cause a lot of unpleasant noises inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is on and naturally producing a minor vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water hooked up, be positive you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There’s typically a button on the water dispenser that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall, it could cause the standard operating sound to seem much louder. This is because of the echo of the sound of the machine. Pull the refrigerator out from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it isn’t one of these simple and easy fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that will often get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and should be cleaned regularly. If it builds up and gets too heavy it might 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 typically located behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. Once exposed you’ll notice a fan behind it. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there check the coils as well. These are typically near there and will be full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a couple of minutes but it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the blades spin freely? If they don’t the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before attempting this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t usually the issue, as this fan is concealed by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that is the area to look.

If you think it might be the compressor, the large, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Tyson’s Appliance Repair. That’s 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