Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Strange sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means {we|our technicians know exactly how to diagnose the issue and correct it. Call Direct Denver Appliance Repair today! The #1 Denver refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home is a little louder than normal there are a couple of easy things that you can check while attempting to find the answer. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that might create loud sounds. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is operating, the sounds might be from a broken a water valve.

There are a few obvious components that need to be checked. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too will often result in glass jars and other items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of annoying noises inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is on and thereby creating a minor vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water connected, be sure you turned off the dispenser and ice maker. There is usually a button on the dispenser that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed really close to a wall in the kitchen, it will sometimes cause the normal running noise to seem a lot louder. This is due to the echoing of the sound of the refrigerator. Slide it out a little away from the kitchen wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to reduce the noise.

If it isn’t one of these basic and common fixes, it is time to dive on in. Most of the time, the fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and needs to be cleaned regularly. If it gets too heavy it can wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. As soon as it’s off you’ll notice a fan in there. If it’s covered in dust and dirt, get a cloth and gently clean it off. While you’re in there look at the coils too. The coils are typically near there and will be full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a very common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin easily? If they do not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before you do this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not typically the issue, as this fan is protected inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to check.

If it’s possible that it might be the compressor, the big, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling Direct Denver Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES