Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means our technicians know just how to diagnose the issue and fix it. Call Gibson Appliance Repair today! The #1 CITY refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little noisier than usual there are a few simple things that you can check while attempting to find the cause. There are a lot of fans on a home refrigerator that might create strange sounds. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two obvious things that need to be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too can sometimes result in glass containers and other food items to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of annoying sounds inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is running and producing a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water line connected, be positive you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s usually a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed very close to a wall, it might cause the normal operating sound to seem louder. This is due to the echo of the sound of the appliance. Move the refrigerator out away from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

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

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the back of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. Once exposed you will see a fan inside. If it’s full of dust and dirt, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils too. The coils are typically right there and full of 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 efficiently. This is a common issue 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 typically a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by just 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 typically located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the problem, 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 place to check.

If it is possible that it might be the compressor, the large, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling Gibson Appliance Repair. That isn’t 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