Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. This means our repairmen know just how to troubleshoot the problem and fix it. Call L&G San Diego Appliance Repair today! The #1 San Diego refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your house seems to be a little noisier than normal there are some easy things that you can check while trying to find the cause. There are a lot of fans on a refrigerator that might create strange noises. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you could have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is working, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic components that must be be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too will often result in glass bottles and other items to clink and clank together. This can cause a lot of annoying noises inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby creating a small vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water hooked up, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There is almost always a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to shut off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to lift 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 louder. This is because of the echo of the sound of the machine. Slide the refrigerator out away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches away from the rear wall of the kitchen to lower the sound.

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

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the rear of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. As soon as it is off you’ll notice a fan inside. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, get a rag and gently wipe it off. While you are in there you should look at the coils too. The coils are usually near there and full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin freely? If not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before trying this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer. This isn’t usually the problem, as this fan is protected inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to check.

If it’s possible it could be the refrigerator compressor, the big, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling L&G San Diego Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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