Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

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

A noisy refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a bit noisier than normal there are a few simple things that you can check while attempting to find a solution. There are a lot of fans on a home refrigerator that could create strange noises. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor wearing out. If your refrigerator is a lot louder when the ice maker is operating, the sounds might be a broken a water valve.

There are a couple of obvious things that must be be checked first. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too might result in glass bottles and other items to clink together. This will cause a lot of unpleasant noises inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby creating a minor vibration.

If you have 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 shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is almost always a button on the dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the water dispenser. And with the ice maker, you just need to lift the bar inside of it. If the refrigerator is installed really close to a wall, it could cause the normal running sound to seem much louder. This is a result of the echo of the noise of the refrigerator. Move it out a little away from the wall and then see if that helps. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to lower the sound.

If it isn’t any of these basic and common fixes, it’s time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get dirty and clogged. There are times the fan motors do as well. There’s a condenser fan and an evaporator on refrigerators too. Often times the condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then needs to be cleaned regularly. If it builds up and gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator 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 get the back panel off. As soon as it’s exposed you will see a fan behind it. If it is full of dirt and dust, get a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there you should check the coils too. These are usually near there and will be covered in the same grime and dust that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes but it will help the refrigerator run efficiently. This is a common problem that causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do they spin easily? If they don’t 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 just disconnecting it. However, before you do this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this 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 within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to check.

If it’s possible it could be the refrigerator compressor, the large, usually black or gray object under the refrigerator by the coils, we recommend calling S.O.S. Santa Barbara Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES