Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. That means our technicians know just how to diagnose the problem and fix it. Call Infinity Appliance Repair today! The #1 Philadelphia refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your house is a little noisier than it usually is there are some easy place that you can check while trying to find the answer. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that might create strange noises. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is working, the sounds could be a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic components that need to be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too will often cause glass jars and other food items to clink together. This can cause a lot of unpleasant sounds inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby producing a small vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water line connected, be sure you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There’s usually a button on the water dispenser that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall, it could cause the standard running sound to seem louder. This is due to the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Slide it out a little from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches from the back wall of the kitchen to lower the sound.

If it isn’t one of these basic and easy fixes, it is time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator 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’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator 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 back of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. As soon as it is exposed you will see a fan in there. If it’s full of dirt and dust, get a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you are in there check the coils too. These are usually right there and will be full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a very common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin easily? If they don’t the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before attempting any of this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t usually the problem, as this particular fan is concealed by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the area to check.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the big, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Infinity Appliance Repair. That is not 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