Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. This means we know exactly how to troubleshoot the problem and fix it. Call Astra Appliance Repair today! The #1 Wichita refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a little noisier than normal there are some easy place that you can check while attempting to find the cause. There are a lot of fans on a refrigerator that might create loud sounds. The refrigerator could also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is working, the sounds could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic components that must be be checked. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too might cause glass bottles and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of unpleasant sounds inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is running and creating a small vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water connected, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There is usually a button on the 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 near a wall, it could cause the standard operating noise to seem a lot louder than it is. This is due to the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Slide the refrigerator out from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to reduce the noise.

If it is not any of these basic and easier fixes, it is time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that will often get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Often times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and should be cleaned often. If the coating gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. Once exposed you’ll see a fan inside. If it’s covered in dust and dirt, find a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should check the coils too. These are typically near there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a couple of minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the fan blades spin freely? If they do not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before attempting this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This is not typically the problem, as this particular fan is protected inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the place to look.

If it’s possible it might be the compressor, the large, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Astra Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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