Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. That means our technicians know just how to troubleshoot the problem and correct it. Call Finch Appliance Repair today! The #1 refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your home is a little noisier than normal there are a couple of easy things that you can check while attempting to find the answer. There are many fans on a standard refrigerator that often create loud sounds. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is operating, the sounds could be from a broken a water valve.

There are some obvious things that need to be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too might cause glass jars and other items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of loud sounds inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is on and producing a minor vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water connected, be positive you turned off the dispenser and ice maker. There is usually a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall, it might cause the standard running sound to seem much louder than it is. This is because of the echo of the noise of the appliance. Slide it out away from the wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches from the rear wall to limit the sound.

If it is not any of these basic and easier fixes, it is time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then should be cleaned often. If the coating gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. Once off you will notice a fan in there. If it is covered in dirt and dust, grab a rag and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there check the coils too. The coils are usually right there and will be covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before trying any of this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This is not typically the issue, as this fan is concealed by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the area to check.

If you think it might be the compressor, the big, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling Finch Appliance Repair. That is 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