Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means we know just how to diagnose the problem and repair it. Call Hi-Tech Miramar Appliance Repair today! The #1 Miramar refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit louder than usual there are a couple of simple things that you can look at while trying to find a solution. There are a lot of fans on a refrigerator that often create strange sounds. The refrigerator could also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are some obvious things that should be checked. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too will often cause glass jars and other food items to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of loud noises inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby producing a small vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water line hooked up, be positive you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s typically 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 lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall, it might cause the standard running sound to seem a lot louder. This is because of the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Pull the refrigerator out away from the wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches from the back wall of the kitchen to lower the noise.

If it isn’t any of these simple and easier fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and then needs to be cleaned regularly. If the coating builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is to unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. As soon as it is off you’ll see a fan inside. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, grab a cloth and gently clean it off. While you’re in there check the coils too. These are typically near there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a common problem that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the fan blades spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before attempting this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer. This isn’t usually the problem, as this particular fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the place to look.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Hi-Tech Miramar Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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