Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Loud sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. This means our repairmen know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and fix it. Call Waukegan Appliance Repair today! The #1 Waukegan refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a little noisier than normal there are a few easy things that you can check while attempting to find the cause. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that could create loud noises. The appliance might also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a few obvious things that need to be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too could result in glass jars and other food items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is running and naturally producing a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water connected, be sure you turned off the dispenser and the ice maker. There is almost always a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to lift the bar. If the refrigerator is installed very close to a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the standard operating noise to seem louder. This is a result of the echo of the sound of the machine. Pull it out away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches from the rear wall to reduce the noise.

If it is not one of these simple and easier fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that will often get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned often. If the coating gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. As soon as it is exposed you will see a fan inside. If it is full of dirt and dust, grab a rag and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils too. These are typically right there and full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a very common problem that can cause 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 an easy repair, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before attempting this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the issue, as this fan is protected by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to look.

If you think it could be the compressor, the large, typically gray or black object under the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Waukegan Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES