Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our repairmen know just how to troubleshoot the issue and correct it. Call Beaverton Appliance Repair today! The #1 Beaverton refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your house is a bit noisier than it usually is there are a couple of simple things that you can look at while attempting to find a solution. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that could create loud sounds. The appliance might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor that’s wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is operating, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are a few obvious things that should be checked first. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too can result in glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This will cause a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby creating a small vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water connected, be positive you turned off the dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the dispenser that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the normal running noise to seem much louder than it really is. This is because of the echoing of the noise of the refrigerator. Pull the refrigerator out a little away from the wall and see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it’s not any of these basic and common fixes, it is time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Many times the condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and should be cleaned often. If the dust gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. As soon as it’s exposed you will notice a fan inside. If it’s covered in dust and dirt, find a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils as well. These are typically right there and full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before doing any of this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the problem, as this fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that is the place to look.

If it is possible that it could be the compressor, the large, usually black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Beaverton Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES