Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means our technicians know exactly how to troubleshoot the problem and fix it. Call Hawk Appliance Repair today! The #1 California refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house is a bit louder than usual there are a few simple things that you can look at while trying to find the answer. There are several fans on a refrigerator that could create loud sounds. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is working, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of basic components that should be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too can sometimes cause glass containers and other items to clink together. This can create a lot of unpleasant noises inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is running and naturally producing a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water line connected, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed really close to a wall in the kitchen, it can sometimes cause the normal operating noise to seem a lot louder than it is. This is a result of the echo of the noise of the machine. Slide the refrigerator out a bit away from the kitchen wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches from the back wall to reduce the noise.

If it isn’t any of these basic and common fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then needs to be cleaned regularly. If the dust gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is to unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. As soon as it is off you’ll notice a fan behind it. If it is covered in dirt and dust, take a cloth and gently clean it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils too. The coils are usually near there and will be covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is typically a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before doing any of this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the issue, as this particular fan is concealed by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the area to look.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the large, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Hawk Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

Copyright ©2024  Hawk Appliance Repair