Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. That means our technicians know just how to diagnose the problem and fix it. Call Total Toledo Appliance Repair today! The #1 Toledo refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a bit noisier than usual there are some easy things that you can check while trying to find a solution. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that might create loud sounds. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is making ice, the sounds could be a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic components that must be be checked. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too will often result in glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink together. This can cause a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is on and naturally creating a minor vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water line connected, be sure you turned off the dispenser and the ice maker. There is typically a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the bar. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the standard running sound to seem much louder. This is because of the echoing of the noise of the refrigerator. Move the refrigerator out away from the wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches away from the rear wall to reduce the sound.

If it isn’t any of these basic and easier fixes, it’s 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. Often times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Often times the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then should be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. Once off you will notice a fan behind it. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, grab a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there look at the coils too. The coils are usually near there and will be covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the blades spin freely? If they do not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before trying any of this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically the problem, as this fan is concealed by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the area to look.

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

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• How Does a Refrigerator Work?
• Ice Maker Not Working
• Water Dispenser Not Working
• Refrigerator Not Cooling