Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Loud noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our repairmen know exactly how to diagnose the issue and fix it. Call Express Vista Appliance Repair today! The #1 Vista refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house is a bit louder than normal there are a few simple things that you can look at while trying to find the answer. There are many fans on a standard refrigerator that often create strange sounds. The appliance 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 working, the sounds could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of basic components that must be be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too will often cause glass jars and other items to clink and clank together. This can cause a lot of loud noises inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and naturally creating a small vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water connected, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There is usually a button on the water dispenser that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you need to pull up the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the standard operating sound to seem a lot louder than it really is. This is because of the echo of the noise of the appliance. Move the refrigerator out from the wall and then see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to reduce the noise.

If it’s not any of these simple and easy fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the fans are the reason for a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Often times the condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and should be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside the 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. A lot of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it is off you’ll notice a fan inside. If it’s full of dust and dirt, get a rag and gently wipe it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils too. The coils are usually near there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the fan blades spin easily? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before you do any of this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer. This is not usually the problem, as this fan is protected by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to look.

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

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES