How To Repair A Refrigerator That's Making A Loud Noise
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Condenser Fan Motor
If your fridge is a newer frost-free model, it will likely have a condenser coil that’s kept cool with a fan. This fan keeps air moving for two reasons: to dry up the water that gathers in the drain pan as things defrost, and to keep the condenser coil properly cool. The motor for this fan turns on simultaneous to the motor for the evaporator and the compressor, so a malfunction in the condenser fan motor could be causing your fridge to cycle on and off more frequently or run too warm as well as too noisy. The condenser fan motor is usually on the bottom of the fridge near the back, conveniently close to the compressor. Start your inspection by unplugging the fridge and taking off the access panel at the back. The fan needs to move freely, so remove any rubbish that would block the blade’s movements. It’s a good habit to vacuum the area on a regular basis. Also check for wear on the motor or blades, or signs the motor has seized and must be replaced. If the blades or rubber mounting grommets are worn or damaged, switch them out for new ones
Evaporator Fan Motor
If the noise from your fridge is coming from the freezer, you may have a problem with your evaporator fan motor, which ventilates the evaporator coils during the periods the compressor runs, and can be found behind the back wall of the freezer compartment. If this component is the noise-maker, the fridge may be warmer than usual and ice might take longer than usual to form. Disconnect the fridge electricity and take off the cover from the evaporator fan. Is the fan clogged up with frost or ice? That means there’s a problem with defrosting. Is there damage to the fan blades, or are they loose? You will need to replace any damaged or worn fan. Check to see if the motor shaft turns freely: if not, you will need to look into a new motor. If the cause of the noise still isn’t obvious, have a service technician in so that the power can be reconnected to isolate the place the noise is coming from. Don’t try this on your own, though, since live voltage is dangerous.
Evaporator Fan Motor Grommet
Your fridge’s evaporator fan motor sits on grommets to keep it from rattling on the mounting bracket. In time, the grommets can become worn out or pull loose, and then the movement of the fan on its bracket will make noise. Unplug the fridge and take a look at the evaporator fan motor in the freezer compartment, behind the back panel. If the grommets are worn or loose, replace them.
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