Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. This means our repairmen know just how to troubleshoot the problem and fix it. Call Elite Euless Appliance Repair today! The #1 Euless refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little noisier than usual there are some simple place that you can check while trying to find the answer. There are many fans on a refrigerator that could create loud noises. The appliance might also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is working, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two obvious components that must be be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too could result in glass jars and other foods and liquids to clink together. This can create a lot of loud sounds inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is on and creating a small vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water line connected, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There is typically a button on the dispenser that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to pull up the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed really close to a wall, it might cause the standard running noise to seem much louder than it is. This is a result of the echoing of the sound of the machine. Move the refrigerator out from the wall and then see if that helps at all. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches from the back wall of the kitchen to reduce the sound.

If it isn’t one of these basic and easy fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the fans are the cause of a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Often times the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and should be cleaned regularly. If the coating gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. Once exposed you will see a fan in there. If it is covered in dirt and dust, get a rag and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there look at the coils too. These are usually near there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a few 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.

Spin the fan blades. Do the fan blades spin easily? If they don’t the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before you do 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 typically the issue, as this particular fan is concealed by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the area to look.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling Elite Euless Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• How Does a Refrigerator Work?
• Ice Maker Not Working
• Water Dispenser Not Working
• Refrigerator Not Cooling