Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. That means our repairmen know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and correct it. Call Westminster Appliance Repair today! The #1 Westminster refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a bit louder than it usually is there are a couple of simple place that you can look at while attempting to find a solution. There are a lot of fans on a refrigerator that might create loud noises. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is working, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two obvious components that must be be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too could result in glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink together. This will create a lot of unpleasant sounds inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is on and creating a small vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water line hooked up, be sure you turned off the dispenser and ice maker. There is usually a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to turn off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the bar. If the refrigerator was installed very close to a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the normal running sound to seem a lot louder. This is due to the echoing of the sound of the appliance. Pull it out a little away from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches from the rear wall to lower the noise.

If it’s not any of these basic and common fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Often times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and should be cleaned regularly. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it might 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 rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. Once exposed you will notice a fan inside. If it is full of dirt and dust, get a rag and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there look at the coils as well. These are usually near there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before you do this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t usually the problem, as this fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to check.

If it’s possible that it could be the compressor, the big, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling Westminster Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES