Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our technicians know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and correct it. Call St. Petersburg Appliance Repair today! The #1 St. Petersburg refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house is a little louder than it usually is there are some simple things that you can look at while trying to find the answer. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that could create loud noises. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be 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 is too will often cause glass jars and other foods and liquids to clink together. This will create a lot of loud sounds inside of the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and naturally creating a minor vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water connected, be positive you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There is typically a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed very close to a wall, it will sometimes cause the normal operating sound to seem louder. This is due to the echoing of the noise of the machine. Slide it out from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches away from the back wall to reduce the sound.

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

Spin the fan blades. Do the blades spin easily? If they do not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before you do any of this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the 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 concealed by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that is the place to look.

If it’s possible that it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling St. Petersburg 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