Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our technicians know exactly how to diagnose the issue and fix it. Call Warwick Appliance Repair today! The #1 Warwick refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house is a bit noisier than usual there are some easy place that you can check while trying to find a solution. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that could create strange noises. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is operating, the sounds could be from a broken a water valve.

There are some obvious things that must be be checked. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too can sometimes cause glass containers and other food items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of unpleasant sounds inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is on and naturally 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 hooked up, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There’s typically a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the normal running noise to seem a lot louder than it really is. This is due to the echo of the noise of the appliance. Pull it out a bit away from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the rear wall to limit the noise.

If it isn’t one of these simple and common fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Often times the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then should be cleaned often. If it gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the rear of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s off you will see a fan inside. If it’s full of dust and dirt, find a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there check the coils as well. The coils are usually near there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common issue that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do they spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before attempting this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not typically the issue, as this particular fan is concealed within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to look.

If it is possible that it could be the refrigerator compressor, the big, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling Warwick Appliance Repair. That is 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