Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator unusual noise

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means our repairmen know just how to troubleshoot the problem and fix it. Call Nifty Naperville Appliance Repair today! The #1 Naperville refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit noisier than normal there are some easy place that you can check while attempting to find the cause. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that could create strange sounds. The refrigerator could 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 working, the sounds might be a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious components that need to be checked. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too can sometimes cause glass jars and other foods and liquids to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby creating a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water hooked up, be sure you turned off the dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed really close to a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the standard operating sound to seem a lot louder than it really is. This is due to the echo of the sound of the refrigerator. Pull it out from the kitchen wall and see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches from the back wall to lower the noise.

If it’s not any of these basic and easier fixes, it is time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. Often 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 will get a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned regularly. If it gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. Once off you’ll notice a fan inside. If it is full of dirt and dust, grab a cloth and gently clean it off. While you are in there look at the coils too. The coils are usually right there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a few minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do they spin freely? If they don’t it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before doing any of this, ensure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer. This is not typically the issue, as this fan is protected within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the area to look.

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

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES