Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Loud noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our repairmen know just how to diagnose the issue and correct it. Call Martin Appliance Repair today! The #1 Spokane refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a bit noisier than it usually is there are a few easy place that you can check while attempting to find a solution. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that often create loud noises. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of basic components that should be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too might result in glass bottles and other foods and liquids to clink together. This can create a lot of annoying sounds inside of the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby creating a small vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water connected, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s typically a button on the water dispenser that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to pull up the bar. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall, it might cause the normal operating sound to seem a lot louder. This is because of the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Slide it out a bit away from the wall and see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to lower the sound.

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

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is to unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. Once off you’ll see a fan in there. If it is full of dirt and dust, find a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there look at the coils as well. The coils are usually right there and full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do they spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before attempting any of this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the problem, as this fan is protected by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to check.

If you think it might be the compressor, the large, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Martin Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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