Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. That means our technicians know just how to diagnose the issue and repair it. Call Enhance New Brunswick Appliance Repair today! The #1 New Brunswick refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a bit noisier than normal there are some easy place that you can look at while trying to find the cause. There are many fans on a standard refrigerator that could create loud sounds. The appliance might also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is operating, the sounds might be a broken a water valve.

There are one or two basic components that must be be checked. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too will often result in glass bottles and other items to clink together. This can create a lot of unpleasant sounds inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is running and naturally creating a small vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water line connected, be sure you turned off the dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed right by a wall, it will cause the standard operating noise to seem much louder. This is due to the echoing of the noise of the refrigerator. Pull it out from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches away from the rear wall to lower the noise.

If it isn’t any of these simple and easier fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that will often get clogged and dirty. Often times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Many times 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 can wear out the bearings inside 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 need a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel. Once off you will notice a fan behind it. If it’s full of dust and dirt, take a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you are in there check the coils too. The coils are typically near there and covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes 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.

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 part that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before doing 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. This isn’t typically the issue, as this fan is concealed inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to look.

If it’s possible it might be the compressor, the big, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling Enhance New Brunswick Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• How Does a Refrigerator Work?
• Ice Maker Not Working
• Water Dispenser Not Working
• Refrigerator Not Cooling