Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Loud sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. This means our repairmen know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and repair it. Call Accel Appliance Repair today! The #1 Auburn refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your home is a little noisier than normal there are some simple things that you can check while attempting to find the cause. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that often create loud sounds. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises might be a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic components that should be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too will often cause glass bottles and other food items to clink together. This will create a lot of annoying noises inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is running and naturally creating a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in 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 usually a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to shut off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed very close to a wall, it will cause the normal operating noise to seem much louder than it is. This is because of the echoing of the sound of the machine. Move it out away from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches away from the rear wall of the kitchen to reduce the sound.

If it isn’t any of these simple and easy fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the fans are the reason for a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that will often get dirty and clogged. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and should be cleaned often. If the dust gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. As soon as it is off you’ll see a fan in there. If it is full of dust and dirt, find a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you are in there you should check the coils as well. These are typically near there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a very common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the fan blades spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before attempting this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the problem, as this particular fan is concealed by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the place to look.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Accel Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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