Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Strange sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means our repairmen know exactly how to diagnose the issue and correct it. Call Swift Appliance Repair today! The #1 refrigerator repair.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little noisier than usual there are some easy things that you can look at while trying to find the answer. There are many fans on a standard refrigerator that might create loud sounds. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is operating, the sounds 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 is too can cause glass bottles and other items to clink together. This can create a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and producing a small vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water hooked up, be positive you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There is almost always a button on the dispenser that can be used to shut off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall, it could cause the standard running sound to seem much louder. This is due to the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Move the refrigerator out from the kitchen wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the rear wall to limit the noise.

If it’s not one of these basic and easier fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that will often get clogged and dirty. Often times the fan motors do as well. 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 should be cleaned regularly. If the coating gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off. Once exposed you’ll see a fan in there. If it is covered in dirt and dust, find a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you are in there look at the coils as well. These are usually right there and will be covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the fan blades spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before you do any of this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically the problem, as this particular fan is protected by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the place to check.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the large, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Swift Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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