Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our repairmen know just how to diagnose the problem and fix it. Call Renew Appliance Repair today! The #1 Bowie refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a little louder 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 home refrigerator that could create strange sounds. The appliance might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious things that must be be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too could result in glass jars and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of loud sounds inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is on and naturally producing a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water line hooked up, be positive you shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the water dispenser that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to pull up the bar. If the refrigerator is installed really close to a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the normal running sound to seem much louder than it really is. This is a result of the echo of the noise of the appliance. Pull the refrigerator out a bit away from the wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches away from the rear wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it isn’t one of these basic and common 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 is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and should be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind 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 is exposed you will notice a fan in there. If it’s full of dirt and dust, grab a rag and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there look at the coils too. These are typically right there and will be full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a common issue that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do the blades spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before trying this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This is not usually the issue, as this particular fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to look.

If it is possible it could be the compressor, the big, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Renew Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES