Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. This means our repairmen know just how to troubleshoot the issue and correct it. Call Lynch Appliance Repair today! The #1 San Bernardino refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a little louder than normal there are a couple of simple things that you can check while trying to find the cause. There are a lot of fans on a home refrigerator that could create strange sounds. The refrigerator might also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is operating, the noises could be a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious components that must be be checked. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too can result in glass bottles and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is on and naturally producing a small vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water line connected, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s 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 just need to lift the bar. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall, it could cause the normal operating sound to seem louder. This is a result of the echo of the sound of the appliance. Move it out a little from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator should be close to 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to reduce the sound.

If it isn’t any of these basic and easy fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. 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 as well. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator 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 it builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. Once off you will notice a fan behind it. If it’s full of dirt and dust, get a rag and gently wipe it off. While you are in there look at the coils too. The coils are typically near there and will be full of the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a very common issue that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do the blades spin easily? If not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before trying this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically the issue, as this fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the area to check.

If it’s possible it might be the compressor, the big, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Lynch Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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