Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. This means our repairmen know just how to troubleshoot the problem and repair it. Call Cooper Appliance Repair today! The #1 refrigerator repair.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a little louder than usual there are a couple of easy place that you can look at while attempting to find a solution. There are many fans on a standard refrigerator that could create loud noises. The appliance might also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is working, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are a few obvious things that must be be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too might result in glass bottles and other foods and liquids to clink together. This can cause a lot of loud noises inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is on and creating a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water connected, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There is usually a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to shut off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed very close to a wall in the kitchen, it can cause the standard running noise to seem a lot louder than it is. This is a result of the echo of the sound of the appliance. Pull it out a bit away from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it is not one of these basic and common fixes, it’s time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned often. If the dust gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. As soon as it is off you’ll see a fan in there. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, grab a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there check the coils as well. These are usually near there and full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before you do this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t usually the issue, as this fan is protected 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 check.

If it is possible that it could be the compressor, the big, usually gray or black object under the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Cooper Appliance Repair. That’s 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