Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. That means our technicians know just how to troubleshoot the issue and fix it. Call La Mesa Appliance Repair today! The #1 La Mesa refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a bit noisier than normal there are a couple of easy things that you can look at while trying to find the cause. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that might create loud noises. The appliance might also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is working, the sounds could be a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic components that need to 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 together. This will cause a lot of annoying sounds inside of the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and naturally producing a small vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water line connected, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There is almost always a button on the dispenser that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed very close to a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the standard operating noise to seem a lot louder. This is because of the echoing of the sound of the refrigerator. Slide the refrigerator out away from the wall and see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches away from the back wall to reduce the noise.

If it isn’t one of these simple and easier fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and then needs to be cleaned often. 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. A lot of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off. As soon as it’s off you will see a fan inside. If it is full of dust and dirt, take a rag and gently clean it off. While you’re in there you should check 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 will only take 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.

Turn the fan blades. Do they spin freely? If not it means 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 simply disconnecting it. But, before you do this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the problem, as this fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the area to look.

If you think it might be the compressor, the large, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling La Mesa Appliance Repair. That isn’t 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