Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

Strange noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. That means our technicians know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and repair it. Call College Station Appliance Repair today! The #1 College Station refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a little louder than it usually is there are a few simple things that you can check while attempting to find the answer. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that could create strange sounds. The appliance might also not be balanced 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 might be from a broken a water valve.

There are some basic components that need to be checked first. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too could result in glass jars and other items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby producing a small vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water line connected, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s usually a button on the water dispenser that can be used to shut off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to pull up the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall in the kitchen, it can cause the normal operating noise to seem a lot louder than it is. This is due to the echoing of the sound of the machine. Pull the refrigerator out a little away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches from the rear wall to lower the noise.

If it’s not any of these basic and easier fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and should be cleaned often. If the dust 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. A lot of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off. As soon as it’s exposed you’ll notice a fan in there. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, get a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you are in there check the coils too. The coils are usually right there and will be full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a very common issue that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the fan blades spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before attempting any of this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not typically the issue, as this fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when 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 big, usually gray or black object under the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling College Station Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES