Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. This means our repairmen know just how to diagnose the problem and repair it. Call ARC Appliance Repair today! The #1 Woodland Hills refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a bit noisier than it usually is there are a few simple place that you can look at while attempting to find the answer. There are many 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 a lot louder when the ice maker is working, the noises could 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 is too could cause glass bottles and other food items to clink together. This will cause a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is on and thereby producing a minor 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 hooked up, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is usually a button on the water dispenser that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall, it could cause the normal operating sound to seem a lot louder than it really is. This is because of the echoing of the noise of the machine. Pull it out a bit away from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it isn’t any of these simple and easy fixes, it’s time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. 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 refrigerators too. Many times the condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If it builds up and gets too heavy it will sometimes 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 typically located in the rear of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. As soon as it’s off you will see a fan in there. If it’s full of dust and dirt, grab a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there look at the coils too. These are usually right there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before attempting any of this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This is not usually the problem, as this particular fan is protected within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the place to check.

If you think it might be the compressor, the large, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling ARC Appliance Repair. That isn’t 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