Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our technicians know exactly how to diagnose the issue and fix it. Call Palmdale Appliance Repair today! The #1 Palmdale refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your house is a bit noisier than it usually is there are a couple of easy things that you can look at while attempting to find the cause. There are a lot of fans on a standard refrigerator that might create loud noises. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is working, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are one or two obvious things that must be be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too could cause glass bottles and other items to clink together. This can create a lot of unpleasant sounds inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is on and creating a small 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 turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is usually a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed very close to a wall, it can sometimes cause the standard running sound to seem a lot louder. This is a result of the echoing of the noise of the machine. Slide it out a bit away from the kitchen wall and see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches from the back wall to lower the noise.

If it’s not any of these basic and easier 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 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 the refrigerator too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s off you’ll see a fan inside. If it is full of dust and dirt, get a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there check the coils as well. These are usually right 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 help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the fan blades spin freely? 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 just disconnecting it. However, before doing any of 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 is not usually the problem, as this fan is concealed by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to check.

If you think it could be the compressor, the large, typically gray or black object under the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Palmdale 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