Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

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

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a bit noisier than usual there are a couple of simple place that you can check while trying to find a solution. There are many fans on a refrigerator that often create strange sounds. The refrigerator could also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is operating, the sounds could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of basic components that must be be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too might result in glass jars and other items to clink and clank together. This can cause a lot of unpleasant sounds inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and producing a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water connected, be positive you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There is almost always a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed really close to a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the normal operating noise to seem a lot louder than it really is. This is because of the echoing of the sound of the appliance. Move the refrigerator out a bit from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches from the rear wall to lower the sound.

If it’s not any of these basic and easy fixes, it is time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and then needs to be cleaned often. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s exposed you will notice a fan inside. If it is full of dust and dirt, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there look at the coils as well. The coils are usually near there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a very common issue that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the blades spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before trying this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the issue, as this particular fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the place to check.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the big, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Gray Appliance Repair. That is not 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