Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

refrigerator loud noises

Loud noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. This means our repairmen know exactly how to diagnose the issue and repair it. Call Superior Santa Monica Appliance Repair today! The #1 Santa Monica refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is extremely annoying. If the refrigerator in your kitchen is a little louder than usual there are a few easy things that you can check while trying to find a solution. There are many fans on a standard refrigerator that could create strange sounds. The refrigerator could also not be level too. Or you may have a compressor that’s wearing down. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is making ice, the sounds could be a broken a water valve.

There are a few basic things that need to be checked first. Like is your refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that is too will often cause glass jars and other foods and liquids to clink together. This can cause a lot of annoying noises inside of the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is cooling and thereby producing a minor vibration.

If you own a refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but don’t have the water hooked up, be sure you shut off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is almost always a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to shut off the dispenser. And with the ice maker, you need to pull up the bar. If the refrigerator was installed right by a wall, it will cause the normal running sound to seem much louder. This is because of the echoing of the noise of the appliance. Move the refrigerator out away from the kitchen wall and see if that helps. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches away from the rear wall of the kitchen to lower the noise.

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

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

behind the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need a wrench or screwdriver to get the back panel off. As soon as it is off you’ll see a fan inside. If it is full of dust and dirt, take a cloth and gently wipe it off. While you’re in there check the coils too. The coils are usually near there and covered in the same dust and grime 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 sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Spin the fan blades. Do they spin easily? If not the fan motor bearings are broken. This is an easy repair, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before doing any of this, ensure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is typically located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t usually the problem, as this fan is concealed within the walls of the refrigerator. But, when the noises are coming from the top of the appliance that’s the place to look.

If it is possible that it might be the compressor, the large, usually black or gray object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we recommend calling Superior Santa Monica Appliance Repair. That isn’t a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES