One of the most common things that happen with refrigerators is that they randomly become noisy. Not only is this annoying, but it’s also a sign that something isn’t right. Good working refrigerators should be quiet and not have any loud noises coming from them, that’s why it’s recommended to always purchase from reliable brands like GE or Whirpool. The good news is that there are ways to figure out what’s going on and why there is a noise. We’re going to look at some of the most common issues and fixes below.
For starters, you want to listen to the noise your unit is making and try to pinpoint where it’s coming from. This might take a little while because there are so many different parts of a refrigerator and there’s a chance that it sounds like it’s coming from one spot but is actually coming from another. To figure out where it’s coming from, wait for the noise to get loud then put your ear closer to the unit. This should help you narrow down the area that has the issue. If you still can’t figure it out, you might want to get a second pair of ears so they can help you figure it out. Having two pairs of ears is better than just having one. You go on one side and they go on the other and see where the sound is the loudest.
Once you’ve figured out what area has the sound, you’ll want to take the refrigerator apart so you can get to it. This can sometimes be complicated because certain areas need an almost complete disassemble but other areas can be accessed just by taking off 1 or 2 pieces. You’ll need to use a cordless screwdriver for that, and we recommend this one. Either way, you want to make sure you get access and this can be easier with another person. Once you have access to the area with the noise, you want to listen and watch to see if you can figure out what is making the sound. The top 4 common issues for loud noises are: the condenser fan motor or blades, the evaporator fan motor or blades, old compressor, and a clogged inter water valve. The good news is these can easily be fixed once you know what the issue is.
When fixing issues with the condenser fan motor or blades, you’ll usually have to get access to the bottom of the unit. These are used to removed heat that comes from the unit’s compression cycle. You will either need to remove dirt or debris or completely replace the motor and/or blades. On the other hand, the evaporator fan motor and blades can be accessed through the freezer. It’s used for circulate the cold air around the freezer. To fix this, you’ll either have to replace the blades, tighten the blades, get debris out of the fan motor shaft, or completely replace parts. If you figure out that the compressor is making the noise, then you should call a technician and not try to replace or fix it yourself. There’s a lot that can go wrong with this part so you want to ensure you have someone who is experienced fix it. Finally, if the noise is coming from a clogged inter water valve, the only thing you can do is replace it. Trying to unclog it will just damage it more.
As you can see, there are quite a few things that could be causing the sound from your refrigerator. You want to make sure you figure out the issue and get it fixed by a professional company because it could lead to more issues and possibly even make your unit completely stop working! If you experience such a problem, call All Pro Appliance and Refrigerator Repair at 678-765-7774 or submit a request online.
