Why is My Refrigerator Noisy?

loud noises of refrigerator

Loud noises coming from a refrigerator is one of our most popular service calls. That means our technicians know exactly how to troubleshoot the problem and fix it. Call Sparks Appliance Repair today! The #1 Sparks refrigerator repair service.

A loud refrigerator is the worst. If the refrigerator in your home seems to be a little noisier than it usually is there are a few easy things that you can look at while trying to find a solution. 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’s wearing down. If your refrigerator is much noisier when the ice maker is operating, the sounds might be a broken a water valve.

There are a few obvious things that should be checked first. Like is the refrigerator too full? A refrigerator that’s too can result in glass containers and other items to clink together. This will create a lot of loud noises inside of the refrigerator that is not ideal because the refrigerator is running and thereby creating a minor vibration.

If you own a model of refrigerator that has a water dispenser or ice maker but you do not have the water hooked up, be sure you turned off the water dispenser and ice maker. There is typically a button on the water dispenser that can be pressed to turn off the dispenser. And as far as the ice maker, you simply need to lift the bar. If the refrigerator is installed near a wall in the kitchen, it could cause the standard running sound to seem a lot louder. This is a result of the echo of the noise of the machine. Pull it out away from the kitchen wall and then see if that helps or not. A refrigerator should be around 2 inches from the rear wall of the kitchen to reduce the sound.

If it is not any of these simple and easier fixes, it is time to explore the issue further. The majority of the time, the refrigerator fans are the cause of a loud refrigerator. There are fan blades that can get clogged and dirty. There are times the fan motors do too. There is a condenser fan and an evaporator on the refrigerator too. Often times the refrigerator condenser fan gets a coating of dust or fuzz on it and then should be cleaned on a regular basis. If it gets too heavy it might wear out the bearings inside the refrigerator fan’s motor.

Clean the Fan & Refrigerator Condenser Coils

First, the refrigerator. Most of the time you will need to have a screwdriver or wrench to get the back panel off. Once exposed you’ll see a fan inside. If it is covered in dirt and dust, grab a rag and gently clean it off. While you are in there look at 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 few minutes but it will help the refrigerator run more efficiently. This is a common problem that sometimes causes a refrigerator to run non-stop.

Turn the fan blades. Do the blades spin easily? If they do not it means the fan motor bearings are broken. This is a simple repair, as the fan assembly is typically a unit that can be ordered and can be replaced by simply disconnecting it. However, before you do this, be sure the refrigerator isn’t plugged in. Do this same process for the evaporator fan, which is located behind the freezer unit. This is not usually the issue, as this fan is protected by being within the walls of the refrigerator. But, if the noises are coming from the top of the refrigerator that’s the area to check.

If you think it could be the refrigerator compressor, the big, typically gray or black object beneath the refrigerator by the coils, we suggest calling Sparks Appliance Repair. That is not a repair a homeowner should proceed with.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES