Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. This means our repairmen know just how to diagnose the issue and correct it. Call Premiere Chicago Appliance Repair today! The #1 Chicago refrigerator repair service.

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

There are some basic things that need to be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too can sometimes cause glass bottles and other items to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of loud noises inside of the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby 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 line connected, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There’s almost always a button on the water dispenser that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall, it can cause the normal running sound to seem a lot louder. This is because of the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Pull the refrigerator out a little away from the wall and see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it isn’t any of these simple and common fixes, it is time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the fans are the reason for a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and needs to be cleaned regularly. If the coating builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. Once exposed you’ll notice a fan in there. If it is full of dust and dirt, grab a cloth and gently clean it off. While you are in there you should check the coils too. The coils are usually right there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a few minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common issue that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin easily? If they don’t it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before attempting any of this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the problem, as this particular fan is protected inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to check.

If it is possible it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, usually black or gray object under the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Premiere Chicago Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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