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 Chico Appliance Repair today! The #1 Chico refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a bit louder than usual there are some easy place that you can check while attempting to find the answer. There are a lot of fans on a standard refrigerator that could create strange noises. The appliance might also not be balanced too. Or you could have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic components that must be be checked. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too can cause glass bottles and other food items to clink and clank together. This will cause a lot of loud sounds inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is on and naturally creating a minor vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water hooked up, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There is usually a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to lift the bar. If the refrigerator was installed very close to a wall in the kitchen, it can cause the normal running noise to seem a lot louder than it is. This is because of the echo of the sound of the refrigerator. Slide it out away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to reduce the noise.

If it’s not one of these simple and easy fixes, it’s time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then should be cleaned often. If it gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s off you’ll notice a fan in there. If it’s covered in dust and dirt, take a cloth and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should check the coils as well. The coils are usually near there and full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a couple of minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do the fan blades spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before doing any of this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically the problem, as this fan is concealed by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to check.

If you think it could be the compressor, the large, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Chico Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES