Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud noises coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. This means our repairmen know just how to diagnose the issue and correct it. Call Corona Appliance Repair today! The #1 Corona refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home is a bit louder than it usually is there are a couple of simple things that you can look at while trying to find a solution. There are many fans on a home refrigerator that could create loud noises. The refrigerator might also not be balanced too. Or you could have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the sounds could be a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of basic things that need to be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too will often result in glass bottles and other food items to clink and clank together. This can create a lot of unpleasant noises inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is on and naturally producing a small vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water line connected, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to pull up the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the normal running noise to seem louder. This is due to the echoing of the noise of the refrigerator. Slide it out a bit from the wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches from the rear wall to limit the sound.

If it is not any of these basic and common fixes, it’s time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do too. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and then needs to be cleaned regularly. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it might 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 usually located in the rear of the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need to have a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. Once off you’ll see a fan behind it. If it is covered in dirt and dust, find a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there look at the coils too. The coils are usually right there and full of the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils only takes a few minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a very common issue that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do they spin easily? If not the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. But, before doing this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer. This isn’t typically the issue, as this particular fan is protected within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to look.

If it is possible that it could be the compressor, the large, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Corona 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