Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator unusual noise

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our technicians know just how to troubleshoot the issue and correct it. Call R&D Colorado Springs Appliance Repair today! The #1 Colorado Springs refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a bit louder than usual there are a few easy things that you can check while attempting to find a solution. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that might create strange noises. The appliance might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is operating, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of basic components that should be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too can sometimes result in glass bottles and other foods and liquids to clink together. This can cause a lot of unpleasant sounds inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby creating a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water hooked up, be sure you turned off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s usually a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to pull up the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall, it can cause the standard operating noise to seem a lot louder than it really is. This is due to the echoing of the sound of the machine. Pull it out a little from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches from the back wall to limit the sound.

If it’s not one of these simple and easy fixes, it is time to dive on in. Most of the time, the fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that will often get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the back of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off. As soon as it is exposed you’ll see a fan behind it. If it is covered in dirt and dust, get a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils too. The coils are usually 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 and it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the blades spin freely? If they don’t the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before you do this, be sure 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 is not usually the issue, as this fan is concealed by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the area to look.

If it is possible that it might be the compressor, the big, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling R&D Colorado Springs Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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