Most of us barely notice our refrigerator as long as it keeps food cold. Its soft, steady hum blends into the background of daily life. So when that familiar sound suddenly becomes louder—almost strained—it’s natural to feel uneasy. A noisy fridge is often the first sign that something behind the scenes isn’t working as smoothly as it should.
One of the most common reasons for this change is also one of the most neglected maintenance tasks: cleaning the condenser coils. These coils, usually located behind or underneath the fridge, are easy to forget about, yet they play a crucial role in how quietly and efficiently your appliance runs.
When a Quiet Hum Turns Into a Roar
Under normal conditions, a refrigerator operates at a relatively low noise level, typically between 32 and 47 decibels. When that sound creeps past 55 decibels, it becomes noticeably louder. This usually means the fridge is working harder than usual to keep the temperature stable.
The extra noise often comes from the compressor or the cooling fans running longer and more frequently. While this doesn’t automatically mean your fridge is about to fail, it does signal reduced efficiency—and reduced efficiency almost always has a cause.
How Your Refrigerator Actually Stays Cold
A refrigerator doesn’t “create” cold air—it moves heat. Inside the system, a refrigerant absorbs heat from the interior through the evaporator coils and releases it outside through the condenser coils. The compressor keeps this cycle moving.
When heat can’t escape efficiently, the entire system struggles. The compressor compensates by working harder, which increases noise, energy consumption, and wear on internal components.
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