Why does my refrigerator clunk

One of the most commonly reported issues with refrigerators is a knocking noise that can disturb your sleep at night. There are a couple of culprits that may be responsible for a knowing noise. The primary cause for a knocking sound could be a problem in the compressor or condensing mechanisms.

To properly diagnose the issue, you need to find out where the knowing sound is coming from. This article explains the probable causes for a knocking sound and how to fix the issue.

Here are the reasons that can cause a knocking noise in your refrigerator and how to fix those issues. Typically, a compressor will make make a knocking sound when it starts and stops at certain hours of the day. But if the knocking sound is new, there could be a problem with your compressor, or the problem could be unrelated to the compressor. An unbalanced motor inside the compressor can create a knocking sound in your refrigerator which a technician can quickly fix.

If your compressor is faulty, you will have to get a technician to fix it or getting a replacement. Condenser coils are responsible for the cooling and condensing of the refrigerant.

If you suspect that you have dirty coils, turn off your refrigerator, access the condenser coils at the back of your refrigerator, and clean the condenser coils with a soft brush or shop-vac. The condenser fan cools down the compressor and condenser as they produce heat when they are running. When the fan jams with dirt, it starts to run slower, and there is less airflow which creates a clunk sound when turning.

To clean the condenser fan, cut off power from the refrigerator, open the cover at the back, and use a brush and vacuum to clean the fan blades. Refrigerators that come with ice makers and water dispensers can also be the source of the knocking sound. The ice maker will make a banging noise when filling with water from the water lines due to high pressure. However, the ice maker makes a loud clunk noise when there is a blockage in the water pump.

You will have to turn off the refrigerator, locate the blockage and clean it out. Blockage can come in the form of dirt, hard water mineral deposits, or frozen water. In which case, this is the high time that you should seek out the root of the cause otherwise it could end up costing you a fortune.

However, fear not as we have all the bases covered, from the initial warning signs to the possible fixes. The most likely reason for your refrigerator to make a knocking noise is down to the compressor or condenser fan. This is commonly a case of the fan becoming blocked from a build up of dust, reducing air flow, resulting in a knocking or clicking noise.

Before delving into how you can begin to fix this issue, let us have a quick look through some of the most common causes:. Next time your refrigerator makes a knocking noise, try to listen as to where the noise is coming from. For instance, if it comes from behind or at the bottom of the refrigerator, chances are that the condenser fan motor or blade are to blame.

To reach the condenser fan motor, you may have to remove the panel, which takes less than a few seconds. If it is the motor causing this knocking noise, this is the first indication of a faulty motor. Evaporation is one of the significant processes of refrigeration. This needs the same procedure as mentioned above, ensure that the blades are dirt-free or go for a new motor.

Let us clarify further that the noise coming from the behind of the refrigerator is an indication of a plethora of causes. This can be a condensing mechanism or an unbalanced compression system.

With this one, it is important to seek professional help. This being the result of the refrigerant, which is pretty normal. That is how the knocking sound occurs which does sound alarming at first. Water Hammers may sound daunting but they are easy to understand. Water Hammers occur when water flowing through pipes is forced to stop or change direction. Want to get updates on new answers? Answer this question.

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