Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means our technicians know just how to troubleshoot the problem and correct it. Call Triumph Appliance Repair today! The #1 Bryan refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit noisier than normal there are some simple place that you can look at while attempting to find a solution. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that often create strange sounds. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that’s 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 one or two obvious things that should be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too will often result in glass jars and other food items to clink and clank together. This can cause 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 refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water connected, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There’s almost always a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed very close to a wall, it might cause the standard operating sound to seem a lot louder. This is a result of the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Pull it out from the wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches away from the back wall to limit the sound.

If it’s not any of these basic and easy fixes, it is time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the fans are the cause of a refrigerator that’s 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 the refrigerator too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If the coating builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. Once off you will see a fan behind it. If it is full of dust and dirt, take a cloth and gently clean it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils as well. The coils are usually right there and will be covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a few minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common issue that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

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

If it is possible it could be the compressor, the large, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling Triumph Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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