Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Loud noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means our technicians know just how to diagnose the problem and correct it. Call Spokane Valley Appliance Repair today! The #1 Spokane Valley refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a little noisier than usual there are some easy things that you can check while trying to find a solution. There are a lot of fans on a standard refrigerator that could create strange sounds. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is operating, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are some obvious things that should be checked first. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too might cause glass containers and other items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of unpleasant sounds inside of the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby producing a small vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water connected, be positive you shut off the dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the water dispenser that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed very close to a wall in the kitchen, it can sometimes cause the standard running sound to seem a lot louder. This is because of the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Move the refrigerator out a bit from the wall and see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to limit the noise.

If it isn’t one of these basic and common fixes, it is time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the fans are the reason for a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that will often get dirty and clogged. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Often times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and should be cleaned on a regular basis. If it builds up and gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is to unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the rear of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. As soon as it’s exposed you’ll notice a fan in there. If it’s full of dirt and dust, find a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there look at the coils too. These are usually near there and will be full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin easily? If they don’t the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before you do any of this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the problem, as this particular fan is concealed by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to check.

If it’s possible it might be the compressor, the large, usually gray or black object under the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Spokane Valley Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES