Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Strange noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. This means our technicians know just how to diagnose the problem and repair it. Call Longmont Appliance Repair today! The #1 Longmont refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit noisier than usual there are some easy place that you can check while trying to find the answer. There are many fans on a refrigerator that could create strange noises. The refrigerator could also not be balanced too. Or you could have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is operating, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are some obvious things that should be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too can result in glass jars and other food items to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of unpleasant noises inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and creating a small vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water connected, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to turn off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to pull up the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall, it could cause the standard operating sound to seem louder than it really is. This is because of the echo of the sound of the appliance. Slide the refrigerator out a little from the wall and then see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches from the rear wall to reduce the noise.

If it isn’t any of these simple and easy fixes, it is 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 will often get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Many times the condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and needs to be cleaned often. If the coating 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

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s exposed you will notice a fan in there. If it is covered in dust and dirt, grab a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should check the coils too. The coils are typically right there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a very common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before doing any of this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not typically the issue, as this particular fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the area to check.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, typically gray or black object under the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling Longmont Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES