Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means our repairmen know just how to troubleshoot the issue and correct it. Call True Baton Rouge Appliance Repair today! The #1 Baton Rouge refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a little noisier than it usually is there are some easy things that you can look at while trying to find the cause. There are a lot of fans on a home refrigerator that often create loud sounds. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is working, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic components that need to be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too will often result in glass containers and other food items to clink together. This will cause a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby producing a small vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water connected, be sure you turned off the dispenser and the ice maker. There is typically a button on the dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed very close to a wall in the kitchen, it can sometimes cause the normal operating sound to seem louder. This is because of the echo of the sound of the machine. Pull the refrigerator out a little away from the wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches away from the back wall to reduce the noise.

If it is not one of these simple and easier fixes, it’s time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and needs to be cleaned regularly. If the coating gets too heavy it might 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 a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. Once exposed you’ll notice a fan inside. If it is covered in dust and dirt, grab a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there check the coils as well. The coils are usually near there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a couple of minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a very common problem that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before doing this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the problem, as this particular fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to check.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the large, usually black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling True Baton Rouge Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES