Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. This means our technicians know just how to diagnose the problem and repair it. Call P.D.Q. Cicero Appliance Repair today! The #1 Cicero refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house is a bit louder than usual there are a few simple things that you can check while attempting to find the cause. There are several fans on a home refrigerator that often create strange noises. The refrigerator could also not be balanced too. Or you could have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is operating, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic things that must be be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too will often cause glass jars and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of annoying noises inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is running and producing a small vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water line connected, be positive you shut off the dispenser and ice maker. There’s typically a button on the dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you need to pull up the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall, it could cause the standard running noise to seem a lot louder. This is due to the echo of the sound of the refrigerator. Move it out from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches away from the rear wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it isn’t any 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 sometimes get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Often times the condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and then needs to be cleaned regularly. If it gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. Once exposed you will see a fan behind it. If it is full of dirt and dust, find a cloth and gently clean it off. While you are in there check the coils as well. These are typically right there and covered in 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 issue 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 not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before doing this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the issue, as this particular fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the area to check.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the large, usually gray or black object under the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling P.D.Q. Cicero Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• How Does a Refrigerator Work?
• Ice Maker Not Working
• Water Dispenser Not Working
• Refrigerator Not Cooling