Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

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

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your home is a bit louder than normal there are a couple of simple place 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 appliance could also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is making ice, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious components that must be be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too might result in glass containers and other foods and liquids to clink together. This can cause a lot of loud noises inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is on and naturally creating a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water connected, be positive you turned 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 just need to lift the metal bar. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the standard running noise to seem a lot louder. This is a result of the echo of the sound of the refrigerator. Pull the refrigerator out from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the rear wall to limit the noise.

If it is not any of these basic and common fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Often times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then should be cleaned regularly. If it builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. As soon as it is off you’ll notice a fan in there. If it is full of dust and dirt, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils too. These are typically right there and will be covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before you do any of this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically the issue, as this particular fan is protected within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to look.

If it’s possible that it could be the compressor, the big, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling Lancaster Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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