When your refrigerator makes an unexpected sound it can be hard to determine what’s normal and what’s a cause for concern. Wondering why your Maytag refrigerator is noisy? A loud buzzing sound may mean the condenser coils need a cleaning. Decipher Maytag refrigerator noise with this guide to common sounds.
Maytag Refrigerator is Noisy? Here’s How to Troubleshoot.
Clicking, buzzing or humming sounds are just some of what you may hear when your Maytag refrigerator is noisy. Our guide details what’s part of normal operation as well as if certain sounds require a DIY or professional fix.
Gurgling
Gurgling sounds can occur at the end of a cooling cycle as the refrigerant moves through the condenser and evaporator coils. In addition, opening or closing the refrigerator doors may force air through the drain tube. This can cause any water inside the tube to make a gurgling noise.
How to fix it: Gurgling sounds are considered part of normal operation.
Sizzling, Hissing, or Dripping
When your Maytag refrigerator is noisy from sizzling, hissing or dripping, water is likely falling on the defrost heater during the defrost cycle. While most of this water is contained or evaporates, some may still drip on the warm heater, resulting in these sounds.
How to fix it: Sizzling, hissing, and dripping are normal Maytag refrigerator sounds.
Clicking
When your Maytag refrigerator is making a clicking noise, the ice maker may be off or not connected to a water supply. Clicking or buzzing occurs when the water inlet valve tries to allow water to fill the ice maker.
How to fix it: Make sure the ice maker has access to water by checking the refrigerator water line and its connection to your home water supply. If the water line is working properly, make sure the ice maker is turned on. For ice makers with a wire shutoff arm, the arm must be lowered. Other ice makers have a switch that must be slid to the on position.
Buzzing
Loud buzzing sounds may occur if your Maytag refrigerator condenser coils are dirty. As the refrigerant flows through the condenser coils, it dissipates heat to create cool air for the refrigerator. If the coils are coated in dust and dirt, the refrigerant may not cool sufficiently. This causes the compressor to work harder, resulting in a buzzing noise.
How to fix it: Wondering how to stop refrigerator from buzzing? Cleaning the condenser coils can silence the sound.
Here’s how to clean the condenser coils when your Maytag refrigerator is noisy:
- Disconnect the refrigerator from power.
- Remove the base grille at the bottom of the refrigerator.
- Vacuum the coils and surrounding area with a soft brush attachment or use an appliance brush to remove dust and debris.
- Replace the grille and restore refrigerator power.
Knocking
Is your Maytag refrigerator making knocking noise? It’s possible one of the fan blades is obstructed. A condenser and evaporator fan help cool refrigerant and blow cool air into the refrigerator’s interior. When one of these fan blades is obstructed or hits something as it rotates, you may hear a knocking sound. If the obstruction stops the blade from turning, you may also find that the refrigerator is warm from a lack of cool air.
How to fix it: Inspect the fan blades to determine if they can rotate freely. The evaporator fan can usually be accessed behind a rear freezer panel. The condenser fan is typically found on the back of the refrigerator, near the bottom. Remove any obstructions that may be preventing the blades from rotating. If the blockage can’t be reached, a professional service may need to assess the fan.
Humming
While a low hum is part of normal refrigerator operation, loud humming sounds usually indicate a problem with the compressor. The compressor is an essential refrigerator component that circulates and pressurizes the refrigerant to make cool air. A refrigerator making loud humming noise may have a compressor that’s wearing out or suffering a part malfunction.
How to fix it: Wondering how to quiet a noisy refrigerator compressor? While it may continue to operate loudly for a while, a noisy compressor can fail at any time. This complex component should be assessed and/or replaced by a professional technician.
Unable to silence loud refrigerator sounds? Contact Appliance Repair Specialists for the best Maytag refrigerator repair in Tampa!