Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Strange noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means our repairmen know just how to troubleshoot the problem and fix it. Call Stanley Appliance Repair today! The #1 refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little louder than it usually is there are a couple of simple things that you can check while attempting to find the answer. There are several fans on a home refrigerator that could 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 operating, the sounds might be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic components that should be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too could cause glass jars and other items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby producing a minor vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line hooked up, be positive you shut off the dispenser and ice maker. There’s typically a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed really close to a wall, it could cause the standard operating noise to seem 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. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches away from the rear wall of the kitchen to reduce the noise.

If it’s not any of these simple and common fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes 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 condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and should be cleaned often. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s off you will see a fan inside. If it’s full of dust and dirt, find a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there look at the coils too. The coils are typically right there and full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin easily? If they do not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before doing this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically the issue, as this particular fan is protected within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the place to check.

If it is possible it could be the refrigerator compressor, the large, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Stanley Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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