Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means our repairmen know exactly how to diagnose the issue and correct it. Call Prime Pasadena Appliance Repair today! The #1 Pasadena refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your home is a bit noisier than it usually is there are a few simple place that you can check while attempting to find a solution. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that might create loud sounds. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor that’s wearing down. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a few obvious things that must be be checked. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too might cause glass containers and other items to clink together. This can create a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby producing a minor vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water line hooked up, be sure you turned off the dispenser and ice maker. There is almost always a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall, it might cause the normal running noise to seem much louder than it really is. This is because of the echoing of the sound of the appliance. Slide the refrigerator out a little from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches away from the back wall to lower the sound.

If it isn’t one of these simple and easy fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned on a regular basis. If it gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. As soon as it’s off you’ll see a fan in there. If it’s full of dirt and dust, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there check the coils as well. These are typically near there and full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do they spin easily? If they don’t it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before you do this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t usually the problem, as this fan is concealed 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 look.

If it’s possible it could be the compressor, the large, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling Prime Pasadena Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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