Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means we know exactly how to diagnose the problem and repair it. Call Gold Appliance Repair today! The #1 New Orleans refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a bit noisier than usual there are a couple of simple things that you can look at while trying to find the answer. There are a lot of fans on a standard refrigerator that could create strange sounds. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that’s wearing down. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious things that must be be checked. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too might cause glass jars and other items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of loud noises inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and naturally producing a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water hooked up, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There’s usually a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to turn off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed very close to a wall, it might cause the standard running sound to seem a lot louder. This is due to the echo of the noise of the appliance. Slide it out a little from the kitchen wall and see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the back wall to reduce the noise.

If it’s not one of these basic and easier fixes, it’s time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Often times the condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned regularly. If the coating builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is to unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the back of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. As soon as it is exposed you will notice a fan in there. If it is covered in dirt and dust, find a cloth and gently clean it off. While you’re in there check the coils too. These are typically near there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the blades spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before doing any of this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically 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’s the place to look.

If it’s possible it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling Gold Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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