Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Strange noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means our technicians know exactly how to diagnose the issue and fix it. Call Mann Appliance Repair today! The #1 Florida refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little louder than normal there are a couple of easy place that you can check while trying to find a solution. There are a lot of fans on a refrigerator that might create loud noises. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the sounds could be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic components that must be be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too could cause glass jars and other items to clink and clank together. This can cause a lot of unpleasant noises inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby producing a minor vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water line hooked up, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s usually a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to pull up the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall, it could cause the normal running noise to seem a lot louder. This is due to the echoing of the sound of the machine. Pull it out away from the wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator needs to be around 2 inches away from the back wall to reduce the noise.

If it’s not any of these simple and common fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that will often get clogged and dirty. 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 or fuzz on it and needs to be cleaned regularly. If the coating builds up and gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. Once exposed you’ll see a fan behind it. If it is covered in dust and dirt, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there check the coils too. The coils are typically near there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a couple of minutes but it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin easily? If they do not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before doing this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer. This is not typically the issue, as this fan is concealed by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the area to check.

If it’s possible that it could be the compressor, the large, usually black or gray object under the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Mann Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES