Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Strange noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common customer calls. This means our technicians know exactly how to diagnose the problem and repair it. Call L&C Virginia Beach Appliance Repair today! The #1 Virginia Beach refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home is a bit louder than it usually is there are a few simple place that you can look at while trying to find the cause. There are several fans on a refrigerator that could create loud noises. The appliance could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor wearing down. If your refrigerator is a lot noisier when the ice maker is operating, the sounds could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious things that need to be checked. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too could result in glass jars and other food items to clink together. This will create a lot of annoying sounds inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and naturally creating a minor vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but do not have the water line connected, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and the ice maker. There’s typically a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed very close to a wall in the kitchen, it might cause the standard operating sound to seem louder than it really is. This is due to the echoing of the noise of the refrigerator. Pull it out a little away from the wall and see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator should be about 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to lower the sound.

If it is not any of these simple and easier fixes, it is time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. Often times the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Often times the refrigerator condenser fan will get a coating of dust on it and then should be cleaned regularly. If the dust gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will want to have a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. As soon as it is off you’ll see a fan in there. If it is covered in dust and dirt, take 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 only takes a couple of minutes but it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is actually a common issue that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the blades spin freely? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is usually a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before attempting this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This is not typically the problem, as this particular fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the area to look.

If you think it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, typically black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we advise calling L&C Virginia Beach Appliance Repair. That’s not 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