Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Strange noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our repairmen know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and repair it. Call Quality Appliance Repair today! The #1 Quincy refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your house is a little louder than it usually is there are a couple of easy place that you can check while trying to find the cause. There are many fans on a standard refrigerator that often create loud noises. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is operating, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic things that must be be checked. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too might result in glass bottles and other items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is on and creating a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line connected, be positive you turned off the dispenser and ice maker. There is almost always a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the standard operating sound to seem much louder than it is. This is because of the echoing of the sound of the appliance. Pull it out away from the wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches from the back wall of the kitchen to lower the sound.

If it’s not any of these basic and easier fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the fans are the cause of a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. Often times the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then should 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

behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. As soon as it is off you’ll notice a fan behind it. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, grab 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 will be full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do they spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before attempting any of this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not typically the issue, as this particular fan is concealed by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that is the place to look.

If you think it could be the compressor, the large, usually black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Quality Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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