Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Loud noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our technicians know just how to troubleshoot the issue and correct it. Call QuickFix Appliance Repair today! The #1 Sioux City refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a little noisier than it usually is there are some simple place that you can check while trying to find a solution. There are several fans on a home refrigerator that might create loud noises. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises might be a broken a water valve.

There are a few obvious components that need to be checked first. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too can cause glass bottles and other items to clink together. This will cause a lot of unpleasant sounds inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is running and creating a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water hooked up, be positive you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There’s almost always a button on the water dispenser that can be used to shut off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to pull up the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed really close to a wall in the kitchen, it can cause the normal operating sound to seem much louder than it is. This is due to the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Slide it out a little from the wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches from the back wall to lower the noise.

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

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s off you’ll notice a fan in there. If it’s full of dust and dirt, grab a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils as well. These are typically right there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do they spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before attempting 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 problem, as this particular fan is protected by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to check.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling QuickFix Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES