How to Repair a Noisy Frigidaire Refrigerator

Normal Refrigerator Sounds

• A Quiet Humming typically indicates your compressor is running, meaning your refrigerator is functioning just fine. However, if the humming gets louder suddenly, there may be an issue with the compressor.
• Clicking is another common noise that is usually heard when the defrost timer switches on or off.
• A Dripping sound doesn’t automatically mean your refrigerator has sprung a leak. What you’re probably hearing is water falling into your appliance’s drip pan, which happens after your refrigerator has gone through a defrost cycle.
• A Buzzing noise is normally heard as your refrigerator’s ice maker attempts to fill with water. If you hear buzzing every 15 to 20 minutes, the component is having trouble filling up. Before you inspect the water line running to the ice maker, make sure the water supply valve behind your refrigerator is turned on. If it is, take a look at the water inlet valve and the ice maker’s water line to ensure they aren’t clogged or malfunctioning.

Abnormal Refrigerator Sounds and Their Causes

The Evaporator Fan

How to Replace the Evaporator Fan in Your Frigidaire Refrigerator

1. Slide open your freezer door and take out the side screws holding the front door panel to the rails. Lift the freezer door panel up and off the side rails and place it in a safe area.
2. Remove the freezer’s top basket, and disengage the rail locks to pull the basket frame out of the freezer. Next, lift the bottom freezer basket out of the compartment, and slide the rails back into the freezer.
3. On your freezer’s rear panel, you’ll find the evaporator fan cover. Using your screwdriver, unthread the screws securing the cover to the back wall. Once you’ve removed the screws, pull the cover off the wall to reveal the evaporator fan.
4. Take the faulty evaporator fan off the motor shaft and throw it away.
5. To install the new evaporator fan, simply slide it onto the motor shaft. Make sure you push it all the way back; otherwise, it may end up rubbing against other components as it rotates. To test whether or not the evaporator fan is spinning freely, rotate it a few times with your hand. If everything looks good, you can move on to the next step.
6. Using the screws you removed earlier, reattach the evaporator fan cover to your freezer’s rear panel.
7. Pull out your freezer’s lower rails to reconnect the bottom basket. Once the basket is secure, push the it back into the compartment. Then slide the upper basket frame back into the top rails. Push the frame all the way into the freezer to engage the frame’s locking mechanism. After you hear a click, pull the frame forward and reinsert the top basket.
8. Reconnect the freezer door, and rethread its screws to secure it to the freezer rails. Once you’re done, close the freezer door and plug-in your appliance. For the rest of the day, pay close attention to your refrigerator’s noise level. If it’s back to normal, replacing the evaporator fan fixed the issue.

The Condenser Fan Motor

How to Replace the Condenser Fan Motor in Your Frigidaire Refrigerator

1. Before starting your repair, you’ll need to turn off the water supply valve. After the valve is shut off, pull your refrigerator forward to access the bottom, rear panel.
2. Disconnect the water line from the back of your refrigerator, and take out the screws securing the bottom, rear panel to the appliance.
3. Locate the condenser fan blade and slide it off the motor shaft. Then, detach the wire harness running to the condenser motor.
4. Using a socket wrench, unthread the screws holding the motor to the mounting bracket. Pull the malfunctioning condenser motor out of your appliance.
5. Grab your new condenser fan motor, and attach the component to the mounting bracket. Tighten the screws until the motor is secure.
6. Reconnect the motor’s wire harness, and slide the fan blade back onto the condenser fan motor shaft.
7. Reattach the bottom, rear panel and secure it with the screws you took out earlier. Reinstall the water line to the refrigerator’s inlet valve. Tighten it with a wrench to ensure your refrigerator doesn’t leak.
8. Plug-in your refrigerator and turn on the water supply valve. Carefully push your appliance against the kitchen wall and wait to see if it returns to its normal noise level.

Additional Malfunctions

• The Compressor in a newer refrigerator doesn’t make much noise at all. That’s why a loud compressor isn’t a good sign for your appliance’s health. The compressor is a complicated component, meaning if you believe the part is malfunctioning a call to a trusted appliance repair technician is warranted.
• The Evaporator Fan Motor Grommet sits between the motor and the mounting bracket, and keeps the motor from vibrating against the bracket. If the grommet is damaged your refrigerator may make a rattling noise. Replacing the grommet is the only way to stop the noise from happening.