Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means our repairmen know just how to diagnose the issue and repair it. Call Speedy Chino Appliance Repair today! The #1 Chino refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a little louder than it usually is there are a few simple place that you can look at while trying to find the cause. There are a lot of fans on a standard refrigerator that often create loud sounds. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is operating, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two obvious things that should be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too can sometimes result in glass bottles and other foods and liquids to clink together. This can create a lot of unpleasant sounds inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is running and naturally creating 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 is typically a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to lift the bar. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall in the kitchen, it can cause the normal running sound to seem louder than it really is. This is because of the echo of the noise of the appliance. Pull the refrigerator out away from the wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches away from the rear wall to limit the sound.

If it isn’t any of these simple and easier fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Often times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Many times the condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned often. If it gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it is off you’ll see a fan behind it. If it’s full of dust and dirt, take a cloth and gently clean it off. While you’re in there look at the coils too. These are typically right there and will be full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin easily? If they do not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before you do any of this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not typically the problem, as this fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the area to look.

If you think it might be the compressor, the large, usually black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling Speedy Chino Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES