Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means our repairmen know just how to diagnose the issue and fix it. Call United Appliance Repair today! The #1 Hillsboro refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house is a little noisier than usual there are a few easy place that you can look at while attempting to find a solution. There are a lot of fans on a home refrigerator that often create strange noises. The refrigerator 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 operating, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are some basic components that need to be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too might result in glass bottles and other items to clink together. This can cause a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is on and creating a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water connected, be positive you shut off the dispenser and ice maker. There is usually a button on the dispenser that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to pull up the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall in the kitchen, it will sometimes cause the normal running noise to seem a lot louder. This is a result of the echoing of the sound of the appliance. Pull it out a little from the kitchen wall and see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches away from the rear wall of the kitchen to lower the sound.

If it is not any of these basic and common fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the fans are the cause of a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that will often get dirty and clogged. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If it builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. As soon as it’s exposed you will see a fan inside. If it is full of dirt and dust, grab a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there check the coils as well. These are usually right there and 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 can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

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

If you think it might be the compressor, the large, usually gray or black object under the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling United Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• How Does a Refrigerator Work?
• Ice Maker Not Working
• Water Dispenser Not Working
• Refrigerator Not Cooling