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Why Is My Refrigerator Making Noise

By November 22, 2021Home Maintenance
Refrigerator repair handyman

The evening is here and you are preparing dinner. You are in the kitchen and go to the refrigerator to get the foods you will be cooking, but as you walk to the refrigerator to get your food out, you begin to hear a noise coming from the fridge. This may be a rattling, buzzing, grinding, or vibration sound. Why is my refrigerator making noise? Explore your checklist as it could be your compressor, defrost timer, or condenser fan.

Let’s take a look below at the details involved with how to repair a noisy refrigerator.

Homeowner refrigerator repair
Homeowner refrigerator repair

What Precisely Is The Noise

Let’s take a look at how to discover what is causing the noise. Luckily for you, like anything else, there are steps that you can follow to troubleshoot the issue.

  1. Listen for the noise-getting close to the back of the fridge and listening for a detailed noise from the back, bottom, or inside the fridge.
  2. Inspect the drain pan-the drain pan at the bottom of the fridge might have gotten loose and simply needs a tightening.
  3. Check the defrost timer-if this timer is faulty, it can cause a ticking or scraping sound. A noise that is present for about an hour at a time every couple of days is a clear indication that the defrost timer should be replaced.
  4. Look into the condenser fan-if one is present, it is located in the back of the fridge behind the access panel. Remove the panel and clean the condenser fan. Often, debris and dirt can build up and cause the fan to malfunction.
  5. Check the evaporator fan-pushing the light switch in the freezer allows you to determine if this is the culprit. Check all parts such as grommets, and wires to determine what might need replacing.
  6. The compressor-this would be your final part to check. Simply unplug the fridge and reset the timer and allow the compressor to take a break. When you plug the fridge back in, you can determine if this is the issue.

Checking into all of these areas is important to determine where the noise is coming from. The goal here is to follow each part and eliminate the issue as you go. You never know which part might be the issue. Hopefully, the first item that you look into is the culprit and an easy fix.

New refrigerator
New refrigerator

How Much Does It Cost

Even though repairs are frustrating and no one likes getting them done, it is cheaper to repair your fridge. Replacing a fridge could cost you thousands. On average a new refrigerator can cost you $500 to $3,000 depending on the size and style that you have chosen.

Repairs on the refrigerator will typically run you $200 to $300 depending on the parts that are needing replacement.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Checking the compressor is a great first step for troubleshooting the noisy refrigerator. Understanding how to reset a fridge compressor is your best approach here. Oftentimes, you can solve all of the noise issues by simply unplugging the refrigerator and giving it time to rest. Additionally, you can look into how to reset a refrigerator compressor.

While you are checking the fridge for its noise issues, it’s a great idea to check why it needs a dedicated circuit, and you should know how many amps the refrigerator uses. Knowing how many amps, might save you from many repairs. Oftentimes, electrical boosts can cause damage to your appliance.

Remember that homeowners can often have an extra fridge or freezer in their garage. Also, knowing the required GFCI outlets in your garage is important. In addition, knowing if garages require GFCI outlets is useful. Before purchasing an extra fridge for your home, get to know how many or if GFCI outlets are necessary for appliances in your garage.

Home inspection of appliances
Home inspection of appliances

When Should I Call A Professional

Calling on a professionally licensed handyman is your best approach here. Also, you will want to find a handyman who is familiar with refrigerator repairs. He or she will need to look at the compressor, condenser fans, or defrost timer.

Take the time to ask questions of the professionally licensed handyman to determine the number of times they have repaired or replaced a refrigerator.

Conclusion

Consulting a few professionally licensed handymen to get quotes on the servicing or replacement of your refrigerator is highly recommended. While you are doing that, you will also want to call on your local home inspection team. Call on Boggs Inspection Services to get a home inspection of your other appliances and electrical set up, completed in the Lacey, WA, and surrounding areas.

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