Strange sounds coming out of a refrigerator is one of our most popular customer calls. That means our technicians know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and fix it. Call Accurate Gilbert Appliance Repair today! The #1 Gilbert refrigerator repair service.
A noisy refrigerator is very annoying. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a bit noisier than it usually is there are some simple things that you can look at while trying to find a solution. There are several fans on a home refrigerator that might create loud sounds. The appliance could also not be balanced too. Or you might have a compressor that’s wearing down. If your refrigerator is louder when the ice maker is operating, the sounds might be a broken a water valve.
There are one or two basic things that must be be checked first. Like is your refrigerator filled too full? A refrigerator that is too could result in glass jars and other foods and liquids to clink together. This will create a lot of unpleasant noises inside the refrigerator that isn’t ideal because the refrigerator is running and 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 connected, be positive you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There’s typically a button on the dispenser on the refrigerator that can be used to turn off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to pull up the bar. If the refrigerator is installed very close to a wall, it can sometimes cause the standard running noise to seem a lot louder than it really is. This is because of the echoing of the noise of the machine. Move it out away from the wall and then see if that helps at all or not. A refrigerator needs to be about 2 inches away from the back wall of the kitchen to reduce the noise.
If it’s not one of these basic and easy fixes, it is time to dive on in. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the reason for a refrigerator that is loud. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. Sometimes the fan motors do as well. There is a condenser fan in the refrigerator 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 on a regular basis. If the dust builds up and gets too heavy it will sometimes wear out the bearings inside of the refrigerator fan’s motor.
Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils
behind the refrigerator. A lot of the time you will want to have a screwdriver or wrench to remove the back panel from the refrigerator. As soon as it is off you’ll notice a fan behind it. If it’s full of dirt and dust, get a cloth and gently wipe 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 few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is actually a common issue that can cause a refrigerator to run non-stop.
Turn the fan blades in the refrigerator. Do the fan blades spin freely? If they do not it means the fan motor bearings are not working. This is a simple fix, as the fan assembly is usually a part that can be ordered and can be replaced by just disconnecting it. But, before doing this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do the same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer unit. This isn’t usually the issue, as this particular fan is protected by being inside the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the sounds are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the area to check.
If it’s possible that it might be the refrigerator compressor, the big, usually gray or black object beneath the refrigerator near the coils, we suggest calling Accurate Gilbert 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