A Duluth customer contacted our tech team regarding bad refrigerator compressor noise. Here is what we shared with him to reduce the noise.

 

Refrigerator Noise Sources

First we educated our Duluth customer about refrigerator noise sources.

Condenser Fan Motor

Modern frost-free refrigerators come with a condenser fan motor. You will find this fan near the compressor located at the rear bottom. If it is a built-in Sub-Zero or KitchenAid refrigerator, you’ll find the motor on the top of the refrigerator.

  • Condenser fan motor are designed to circulate air through the condenser coil to cool down the compressor.
  • When the condenser fan motor does not work properly, you might experience bad refrigerator compressor noise which can also cause the failure of the compressor.

Evaporator Fan Motor

Another source of noise can come from an evaporator fan motor located in the freezer side. This fan is designed to circulate cool air from the freezer to the refrigerator side.

  • A faulty evaporator fan motor will not offer the expected coolness in your refrigerator and freezer side leading to food spoilage and can cause your ice maker to stop producing ice.

So, you need to fix the issue immediately to reduce the noise and ensure the proper functioning of your refrigerator.

 

How You Can Reduce Bad Refrigerator Noise

  1. You will have to inspect the condenser fan motor to find out the possible cause of the noise.
    1. Unplug the refrigerator and remove your rear access panel.
    2. Disconnect the fan.
    3. After removing, check for any obstruction that might be causing poor circulation by preventing the fan to move smoothly.
    4. Make sure that the area is free from any obstruction to enable the air to move freely. Regular vacuuming is required to get the best outcome. If you find that your fan motor is worn or blade is damaged, consider a replacement. You can also check the rubber mounting grommets to find out any damage.
  2. Inspect the evaporator fan motor in the freezer compartment. If a loud sound coming from the freezer side you can blame the faulty evaporator fan motor. You can fix it on your own.
    1. Unplug the refrigerator and then its evaporator fan cover.
    2. In some cases, the ice frost might cause noise. If this is the case unplug the refrigerator and let the ice to defrost.
    3. When the blade is damaged or loose and the motor shaft is not turning properly, you will have to replace them.
  3. Another source of a noise can be unproperly leveled or installed refrigerator.

 

Bottom Line

These are the causes of bad refrigerator noise. Our Refrigerator Repair Experts at All Pro Appliance and Refrigerator Repair that serve Duluth mention that you can check the above-mentioned parts to reduce the noise.

If you really find it difficult to know which part is not working, you can take the help of professionals. Experienced repair  professionals can do this job more effectively and can come up with a solution quickly.