Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our repairmen know just how to troubleshoot the problem and repair it. Call P&G Union Appliance Repair today! The #1 Union refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a little louder than normal there are a few easy place that you can look at while attempting to find a solution. There are many fans on a refrigerator that might create strange noises. The appliance might also not be balanced too. Or you could have a compressor that is wearing out. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is working, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are some basic things that need to be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too might result in glass jars and other food items to clink and clank together. This will cause a lot of loud noises inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby producing a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line hooked up, be positive you turned off the dispenser and ice maker. There’s typically a button on the dispenser that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to lift the bar. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall, it could cause the standard operating noise to seem louder. This is because of the echo of the noise of the appliance. Slide it out a little away from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the back wall to lower the sound.

If it is not one of these basic and easy fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned regularly. If the dust gets too heavy it might 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. Most of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. Once exposed you will notice a fan in there. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, grab a rag and gently wipe it off. While you are in there you should check the coils as well. The coils are typically near there and full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a few minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do they spin easily? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before trying this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically the issue, as this particular fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that is the area to look.

If you think it might be the compressor, the large, typically gray or black object under the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling P&G Union 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