Does Your Noisy Refrigerator Require The Expertise of an Appliance Repair Technician?

Your refrigerator isn’t the loudest appliance in your house, however that doesn’t mean it’s completely silent. As your fridge works to keep your food fresh, it makes a number of normal operational sounds. Unfortunately, at times, differentiating between standard noises and noises that indicate a malfunction can prove difficult. If you’re concerned with the sounds coming from your refrigerator, the list provided below will help you identify which noises signal an issue and which are simply run-of-the-mill refrigerator sounds. 

Normal Refrigerator Sounds

• Clicking. While you may think it’s odd to hear your refrigerator periodically click, it’s actually quite common. A reoccurring clicking sound happens when the defrost timer in your refrigerator turns on and off. A similar clicking sound takes place as the temperature control thermostat switches on the compressor or shuts off the compressor.
• Dripping. It’s easy to assume your refrigerator has a leak when you hear the sound of water dripping but can’t locate the source. Luckily, dripping doesn’t necessarily equal an issue, instead the sound is often linked to water from the defrost cycle hitting the refrigerator’s drip pan.
• Gurgling or Knocking. Refrigerant circulating through your refrigerator’s cooling system can make a gurgling noise, while a knocking sound can occur due to the refrigerant’s sensitivity to movement.

Abnormal Refrigerator Noises

• Loud Humming. You’ve most likely become accustom to the hum of your refrigerator’s compressor, however, if that humming has slowly increased in volume, to the point where it’s noticeable in nearby rooms, there’s a good chance the component is no longer functioning correctly. Unfortunately, a faulty compressor is a serious malfunction and most definitely requires the expertise of an appliance repair technician.
• Rattling or Scraping. If you hear a rattling or scraping that gets louder when the freezer door is opened, the evaporator fan is either obstructed or lose and is rubbing against another component. In order to stop the noise and ensure your refrigerator is able to maintain the proper temperature, an appliance repair specialist will need to remove the freezer’s rear panel to examine and possibly replace the fan.
• Buzzing. When the ice maker in your refrigerator fills with water you may hear buzzing, which is perfectly normal, however, when that sound repeats every 10 to 15 minutes it usually indicates the ice maker is having a difficult time filling up. There are a few different malfunctioning parts that can cause this issue, including a clogged water line or a faulty water inlet valve.

At this point, you’re most likely familiar with the everyday noises your refrigerator makes. Unfortunately, when new abnormal sounds suddenly join the mix it often signals something is wrong. If you’re concerned with the sounds coming from your appliance, please contact us today, and one of our trusted appliance repair technicians will be happy to help you.