Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

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

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen seems to be a bit louder than usual there are a few easy things that you can look at while attempting to find a solution. There are several fans on a home refrigerator that could create loud sounds. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you could 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 a couple of basic components that must be be checked first. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too will often result in glass jars and other items to clink and clank together. This will create a lot of annoying noises inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is on and producing a minor vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water line hooked up, be sure you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the metal bar. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall, it could cause the standard operating noise to seem a lot louder. This is a result of the echoing of the noise of the refrigerator. Pull the refrigerator out a little away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches away from the back wall to limit the noise.

If it is not 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 sometimes get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the condenser fan will get a coating of dust or fuzz on it and needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. As soon as it is exposed you’ll see a fan in there. If it’s full of dirt and dust, find a rag and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there check the coils as well. These are typically right there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a very common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do the fan blades spin easily? If they do not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before trying any of this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t usually the problem, as this particular fan is protected by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that is the place to look.

If you think it might be the compressor, the large, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling Payne Appliance Repair. That’s not 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