Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means {we|our technicians know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and repair it. Call DC Appliance Repair ASAP today! The #1 Washington DC refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a bit louder than it usually is there are a few simple things that you can look at while attempting to find the answer. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that might create loud sounds. The refrigerator could also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is working, the sounds could be from a broken a water valve.

There are some obvious things that must be be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too could cause glass containers and other items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby producing a minor vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water connected, be sure you turned off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s usually a button on the dispenser that can be used to turn off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed really close to a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the standard running noise to seem a lot louder. This is a result of the echo of the noise of the appliance. Pull it out from the kitchen wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to limit the sound.

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

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. As soon as it is exposed you’ll notice a fan in there. If it’s full of dirt and dust, find a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils as well. These are typically near there and will be covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin freely? If they don’t the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before doing any of this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the problem, 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 place to check.

If it is possible that it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling DC Appliance Repair ASAP. That is not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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