Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator unusual noise

Loud sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. This means our technicians know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and fix it. Call First Rate Appliance Repair today! The #1 Moore refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit noisier than normal there are a couple of easy things that you can check while attempting to find a solution. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that could create strange noises. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are some obvious components that must be be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too could result in glass containers and other items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of loud sounds inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby creating a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line hooked up, be sure you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed really close to a wall, it might cause the standard operating sound to seem a lot louder than it is. This is due to the echo of the sound of the refrigerator. Pull the refrigerator out away from the wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches away from the rear wall to limit the sound.

If it’s not one of these simple and easy fixes, it’s time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and should be cleaned on a regular basis. If it builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s exposed you’ll see a fan in there. If it’s full of dust and dirt, get a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils too. These are typically near there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do they spin freely? If they don’t the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be ordered 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 located behind the freezer. This isn’t usually the issue, as this fan is protected inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to check.

If it’s possible it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling First Rate Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES