Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator unusual noise

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. That means our technicians know just how to troubleshoot the issue and correct it. Call King Appliance Repair today! The #1 Rhode Island refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home is a little louder than usual there are some simple things that you can look at while trying to find the cause. There are several fans on a refrigerator that could create loud noises. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises might be a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of basic things that should be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too could result in glass bottles and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of unpleasant sounds inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and creating a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water connected, be sure 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 water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed really close to a wall in the kitchen, it will cause the standard running noise to seem much louder than it is. This is because of the echoing of the noise of the appliance. Pull it out a bit from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the rear wall to lower the noise.

If it is not one of these simple and common fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it is exposed you will notice a fan behind it. If it’s full of dirt and dust, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils as well. The coils are typically near there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes but it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin easily? If they don’t it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is typically a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before attempting this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t usually the issue, as this fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that is the place to look.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the big, typically gray or black object under the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling King Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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