Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means our repairmen know just how to diagnose the problem and repair it. Call Orem Appliance Repair today! The #1 Orem refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home is a little noisier than usual there are a couple of simple place that you can check while attempting to find the cause. There are a lot of fans on a refrigerator that might create loud noises. The appliance might also not be balanced too. Or you could have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious things that must be be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too might cause glass containers and other items to clink together. This will create a lot of unpleasant sounds inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby creating a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water line hooked up, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There is almost always 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 simply need to lift the bar. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall, it might cause the standard running noise to seem much louder. This is due to the echo of the noise of the appliance. Pull the refrigerator out a bit from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches away from the rear wall of the kitchen to limit the sound.

If it is not any of these basic and easier fixes, it’s time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator 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 in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then needs to be cleaned often. If it builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. Once off you will notice a fan behind it. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, find a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you are in there check the coils too. These are typically right there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the fan blades spin freely? If they do not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before you do this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer. This isn’t usually the issue, as this particular fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the area to check.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling Orem Appliance Repair. That is not 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