Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Loud sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means we know exactly how to troubleshoot the problem and repair it. Call Acclaim Appliance Repair today! The #1 Indiana refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit louder than normal there are a few simple things that you can check while attempting to find the cause. There are many fans on a refrigerator that often create strange sounds. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is working, the noises might be a broken a water valve.

There are a few obvious components that need to be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too might cause glass jars and other food items to clink together. This will cause a lot of loud noises inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby producing a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line hooked up, be positive you turned off the dispenser and ice maker. There’s usually a button on the dispenser that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the bar. If the refrigerator is installed really close to a wall, it could cause the normal running sound to seem a lot louder than it is. This is because of the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Move the refrigerator out a bit away from the kitchen wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to reduce the sound.

If it is not one of these basic and easier fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the fans are the cause of a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that will often get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Many times the condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and needs to be cleaned often. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the rear of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. Once exposed you’ll see a fan behind it. If it’s full of dirt and dust, grab a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there check the coils too. These are usually right there and full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a couple of minutes but it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a very common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do they spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before attempting any of this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the issue, as this 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 area to look.

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

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

Copyright ©2024  Acclaim Appliance Repair