Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our repairmen know exactly how to diagnose the issue and correct it. Call Greeley Appliance Repair today! The #1 Greeley refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit louder than it usually is there are a couple of easy things that you can look at while trying to find the answer. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that might create strange noises. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are some obvious components that need to be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too could result in glass jars and other foods and liquids to clink together. This will create a lot of loud noises inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and producing a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water connected, be sure you shut off the dispenser and ice maker. There is usually 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 bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed really close to a wall in the kitchen, it can cause the normal operating noise to seem much louder than it is. This is because of the echoing of the noise of the refrigerator. Slide it out a little from the kitchen wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the back wall to lower the sound.

If it isn’t one of these basic and easy 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 sometimes get dirty and clogged. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Often times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned often. If it builds up and gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s exposed you will see a fan behind it. If it’s covered in dust and dirt, grab a cloth and gently clean it off. While you are in there look at the coils too. These are typically near there and will be full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a very common problem that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do they spin easily? If they don’t the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before trying any of this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This isn’t usually the issue, as this particular fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the area to check.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the large, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling Greeley Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES