Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. This means our repairmen know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and repair it. Call Anytime Ann Arbor Appliance Repair today! The #1 Ann Arbor refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a bit noisier than it usually is there are a couple of simple place that you can check while attempting to find the answer. There are a lot of fans on a refrigerator that often create strange noises. The appliance could also not be balanced too. Or you may have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the noises might be from a broken a water valve.

There are one or two obvious components that should be checked. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too might cause glass bottles and other food items to clink together. This will create a lot of unpleasant sounds inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is on and thereby producing a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water line connected, be sure you shut off the dispenser and the ice maker. There is almost always a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall in the kitchen, it can cause the normal operating noise to seem louder. This is a result of the echoing of the sound of the machine. Pull it out a little from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches from the rear wall to reduce the noise.

If it is not any of these simple and easier fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Many times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and should be cleaned on a regular basis. If the coating builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is to unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the back of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off from the refrigerator. Once off you’ll notice a fan in there. If it’s covered in dirt and dust, get a cloth and gently clean it off. While you are in there you should check the coils as well. These are typically right there and full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a very common problem that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do they spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is typically a part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before attempting this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t typically the problem, as this particular fan is concealed by being 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 it might be the compressor, the large, typically black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling Anytime Ann Arbor Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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