Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator noisy

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

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit noisier than usual there are some easy place that you can look at while trying to find a solution. There are a lot of fans on a standard refrigerator that could create loud sounds. The appliance could also not be balanced too. Or you could have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is operating, the sounds could be a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious things that need to be checked. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too might result in glass containers and other food items to clink together. This can cause a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is on and thereby creating a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water connected, be sure you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There’s almost always a button on the dispenser that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the bar. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it can sometimes cause the standard running noise to seem louder. This is a result of the echo of the sound of the refrigerator. Slide it out a little away from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches away from the back wall to limit the noise.

If it is not any of these basic and easy fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned regularly. If the coating gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of 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 rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off. As soon as it is 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’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. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is 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 the fan motor bearings are not working. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before attempting this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer. This is not usually the issue, as this particular fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the area to check.

If you think it could be the compressor, the big, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Rapid Richmond Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES