Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means our technicians know just how to diagnose the issue and fix it. Call A&L Tempe Appliance Repair today! The #1 Tempe refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a little louder than normal there are a few easy things that you can check while attempting to find the cause. There are a lot of fans on a standard refrigerator that could create loud noises. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor that’s wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is operating, the sounds might be a broken a water valve.

There are some basic components that should be checked. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too could 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 isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is running and naturally creating a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water line connected, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s almost always a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the standard running noise to seem a lot louder than it is. This is a result of the echo of the sound of the appliance. Move it out a little from the kitchen wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the rear wall to lower the sound.

If it is not one of these basic and easier fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. There are 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 will get a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned on a regular basis. If the coating builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. Once off you will notice a fan inside. If it’s covered in dust and dirt, grab a cloth and gently clean it off. While you’re in there look at the coils too. These are usually right there and will be full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

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

If it is possible that it could be the compressor, the large, typically gray or black object under the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling A&L Tempe 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