Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator unusual noise

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means our technicians know just how to diagnose the issue and repair it. Call Smithtown Appliance Repair today! The #1 Smithtown refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a little louder than it usually is there are a couple of simple things that you can check while attempting to find the answer. There are several fans on a refrigerator that could create loud sounds. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be 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 is too might result in glass jars and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This can cause a lot of loud sounds inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and producing a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water line connected, be sure you shut off the dispenser and ice maker. There’s typically a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you need to pull up the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the normal running sound to seem much louder. This is due to the echo of the sound of the machine. Pull the refrigerator out a little away from the kitchen wall and see if that helps at all. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it’s not any of these simple and easy 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 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 refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and should be cleaned often. If the coating builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is to unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is usually located in the back of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need to have a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. Once off you will notice a fan in there. If it is covered in dust and dirt, grab a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there look at the coils as well. These are typically right there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a few minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the blades spin easily? If not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before attempting any of this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the problem, as this fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the area to check.

If it’s possible that it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling Smithtown Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

Copyright ©2024  Smithtown Appliance Repair

CLICK-TO-CALL