Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means we know exactly how to diagnose the issue and fix it. Call Appleton Appliance Repair today! The #1 Appleton refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a bit noisier than it usually is there are some simple place that you can look at while attempting to find a solution. There are many fans on a standard refrigerator that often create strange sounds. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor that’s wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is making ice, 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 might cause glass bottles and other food items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is on and naturally creating a minor vibration.

If you have a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water hooked up, be sure you turned off the dispenser and the ice maker. There’s typically a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the normal operating noise to seem louder than it is. This is due to the echoing of the sound of the machine. Pull it out from the wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to reduce the sound.

If it isn’t any of these basic and easier fixes, it’s time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the fans are the cause of a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Many times 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 of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

The first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator. The condenser fan is typically located in the back of the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. Once off you’ll notice a fan in there. If it is full of dirt and dust, take a rag and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there you should look at the coils as well. These are usually near there and will be full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common issue that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do they spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy fix, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before you do this, be sure the refrigerator is not plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer. This is not usually the problem, as this particular fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that is the place to check.

If it is possible it might be the compressor, the large, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Appleton Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

Copyright ©2024  Appleton Appliance Repair | Sitemap

CLICK-TO-CALL