Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. This means our technicians know just how to troubleshoot the problem and fix it. Call Garden Grove Appliance Repair today! The #1 Garden Grove refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house is a bit louder than usual there are a couple of simple things that you can look at while attempting to find the cause. There are several fans on a refrigerator that might create strange sounds. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is operating, the sounds could be a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of basic components that should be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too could cause glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink together. This will create a lot of annoying sounds inside 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 you don’t have the water 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 dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the standard operating noise to seem much louder. This is due to the echoing of the noise of the refrigerator. Move it out a little away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches from the rear wall to lower the noise.

If it is not one of these simple and easier fixes, it is time to dive on in. Most 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. There are times the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If the coating builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of 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 back of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. Once off you’ll notice a fan inside. If it is covered in dirt and dust, take a cloth and gently clean it off. While you are in there look at the coils as well. The coils are typically near there and full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a couple of minutes and 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 in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. 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. However, before attempting this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t usually the problem, as this fan is protected within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the place to look.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the big, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Garden Grove Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• How Does a Refrigerator Work?
• Ice Maker Not Working
• Water Dispenser Not Working
• Refrigerator Not Cooling