Why is My Refrigerator Making Loud Noises?

Loud sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. This means our technicians know exactly how to diagnose the problem and correct it. Call Ready Reno Appliance Repair today! The #1 Reno refrigerator repair service.

A noisy refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a little louder than normal there are some easy place that you can check while trying to find the answer. There are a lot of fans on a refrigerator that often create loud sounds. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you could have a compressor that is wearing down. If your refrigerator is much louder when the ice maker is operating, the noises could be from a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic components that must be be checked. Like is the refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that’s too might result in glass bottles and other items to clink and clank together. This will cause a lot of unpleasant noises inside of the refrigerator that’s not 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 do not have the water line connected, be sure you shut off the dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the water dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to shut off the water dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you just need to lift the metal bar inside of it. If the refrigerator was installed near a wall, it will sometimes cause the normal operating sound to seem louder. This is a result of the echo of the sound of the machine. Pull it out away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator needs to be close to 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to reduce the sound.

If it’s not one of these basic and easier fixes, it’s time to dive on in. Most of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that sometimes get clogged and dirty. Often times the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Sometimes the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then should be cleaned on a regular basis. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside of the fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will need a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel. As soon as it is exposed you’ll see a fan behind it. If it is covered in dust and dirt, find a cloth and gently clean it off. While you’re in there look at the coils too. The coils are typically near there and covered in the same dust and grime that the fan is. Wiping down the coils will only take a couple of minutes and it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do they spin easily? If they don’t the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a component that can be purchased online and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before doing this, ensure the refrigerator is unplugged. Do this same process for the evaporator fan in the refrigerator, which is located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the problem, as this fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the place to look.

If it is possible it could be the compressor, the large, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we advise calling Ready Reno Appliance Repair. That’s not a repair a homeowner should try.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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