Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

Loud sounds coming from a refrigerator is one of our most common service calls. That means our repairmen know just how to diagnose the problem and fix it. Call Dynamic Dayton Appliance Repair today! The #1 Dayton refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit louder than usual there are some simple place that you can look at while trying to find a solution. There are several fans on a standard refrigerator that often create strange noises. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you might have a compressor that’s wearing out. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is working, the sounds could be a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of basic things that must be be checked. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too might result in glass containers and other items to clink together. This can create a lot of unpleasant noises inside the refrigerator that’s not ideal because the refrigerator is on and thereby creating a small vibration.

If you have a model of refrigerator that has a built-in water dispenser or ice maker but you don’t have the water connected, be sure you turned off the dispenser and the ice maker. There’s usually a button on the dispenser that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you need to pull up the bar. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall, it can cause the normal running sound to seem louder than it is. This is a result of the echo of the sound of the refrigerator. Slide the refrigerator out a little from the kitchen wall and see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches from the back wall to lower the sound.

If it is not one of these basic and easy fixes, it’s time to explore the issue further. Most of the time, the fans are the reason for a refrigerator that’s loud. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust on it and should be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want a wrench or screwdriver to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. As soon as it’s off you will see a fan inside. If it is covered in dirt and dust, take a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you are in there look at the coils as well. The coils are usually near there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Cleaning the coils only takes a couple of minutes and it will certainly help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a common problem that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the fan blades spin easily? If they don’t the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. However, before attempting this, be sure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do the same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is typically located behind the freezer. This isn’t usually the problem, as this particular fan is protected within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to check.

If you think it might be the compressor, the large, typically gray or black object under the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Dynamic Dayton Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should attempt.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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