How to deal with a noisy appliance?

Introduction 

Irrespective of the category in which they fall,  Home Appliances are indeed help to reduce labour, both in the kitchen and other places around the house. It is clear that most home appliances are made of electronics devices, some motors and others fans with spinning blades. Hence, it is implied that most of these machines are put in motion from time to time, in order to function properly. In the process of this motion or call it simply movements, it is expected that some noise ensues. 

Normal machine sounds are just necessary in some conventional devices, however, when this noise becomes excessive, it is clear that there is problelm somewhere that needs fixing. In this article, two popular home appliances have been picked-The  refrigerator and the washing machine. The causes of excessive noises have been highlighted and discussed in the subsequent sections. Further to these causes of noisy home appliances, some troubleshooting techniques have been provided to answer the questions of many who wonder how to deal with a noisy appliance.

Loud Noise From a Refrigerator 

When running a refrigerator, it naturally makes an unobtrusive humming noise that does not disrupt other activities within its vicinity and this is absolutely normal. When the refrigerator is making this humming sound, it means cool air is being dispensed and circulated within the refrigerator. Now you see that noise is a sign that your fridge is working perfectly fine. However, when this noise becomes excessive and rather disturbing, It is not out of place to conduct some investigations to detect where the problem could have stemmed from because that noise clearly is not normal. Below are some of the reasons your refrigerator is making unwanted noise and how to fix it.

The Refrigerator Isn’t Level 

If you notice that your refrigerator is making a loud than normal sound, you may want to begin your investigation by checking its stand and making sure that it has an even base. An unevenly placed refrigerator base will produce an unwanted sound when the refrigerator starts running. If you aren’t sure your refrigerator is out of level, as in you can’t see it moving, you can check it with a spirit level. If the level does prove it out of level, you simply need to adjust the legs until the level reads correctly. If you have tried this and still wondering why your Samsung refrigerator is making noise, consult the user manual.

Is an Item touching in the Inside of the Refrigerator Walls? 

Before you take your investigations to a deeper level, check the inside of your refrigerator to make sure that some contents are not resting on the wall of it. Solid items like glass jars, resting on the wall of your refrigerator may cause an unpleasant sound when your refrigerator runs and it vibrates. If you aren’t sure this is the cause, there is little harm in rearranging your refrigerator just to check. It is a fast “repair” that can save you a call to an appliance repair technician. Be sure to move all solid items away from the walls. This can also include items in the door racks as well, but it is less likely.

Fab Blade Damage or Blockage

Sometimes it is pretty easy to detect where precisely, an unwanted sound is coming from in your refrigerator. All you need do is listen carefully and you may be able to figure this out. If this noise is noticed around the vent located between the freezer and the fresh food section, then it is very likely that this is an issue with the refrigerator motor or fan. If you have reasons to believe that the noise is that of a broken fan or motor, you may need to disassemble your refrigerator and inspect the fan. Unfortunately, there is no getting to the fan without first taking the machine apart. Upon inspection, if you make the discovery that the fan is bent or dirty, all you need to do to fix is get new fan blades. However, if you see no physical problem with the blade, the noise is likely coming from the motor.

Motor Problems

Your refrigerator is made up of several motors, such as evaporator and condenser fan motors. If any of the motors get worn out, they may make a loud noise whenever the fridge is running. The issue here is, that you have to be able to discern which motor is malfunctioning. You may have to check any of the motors above to find out which is making the noise

A faulty evaporator fan motor

The evaporator fan motor is located in the freezer compartment. The function of the evaporated fan motor is to pull air over the evaporator coils while the compressor is running. Not only does your fridge make some funny sound when the evaporator fan motor is not working as it should, your fridge too will not cool as much as it should. Also, a faulty evaporator fan motor causes ice to freeze for a longer time. 

When the Condenser Coil Tubes are Touching.

The Condenser Coil is located on the back of the refrigerator. These Condenser Coils are metal tubes that help circulate refrigerant to cool the refrigerator and dissipate heat. The condenser coil stands the risk of damage if the refrigerator is being moved around a lot. If you have not changed the position of your fridge anytime recent to the discovery of the unwanted noise, then it is likely that it is not the condenser coil. However, if you have moved your fridge, you may have to inspect the condenser coil and make sure that it is not bent or dented in any way. If these coils are bent enough that they touch each other, then this is likely the cause of the noise. It will be a distinctly metallic noise that will resonate from the backside of your refrigerator. 

On the other hand, if the condenser coils are damaged instead of a slight bender, the problem may be more critical and needing or imminent attention. A broken condenser coil will certainly cause refrigerant leakage. The coils as a whole will need to just be replaced. Unfortunately, this can be a fairly serious expense. If your appliance is over ten years old, it may be more cost-effective to replace it instead. 

Damper issues 

The damper is a flap that opens and closes between your freezer and the fresh food compartment. The refrigerator doesn’t actually produce the cold air for the fresh food compartment. Instead, it pumps cold air into the freezer compartment and then the damper opens so that some of that cool air cools the fresh food section. Now, because the damper is constantly moving, in the fridge, it can get worn out at some point. It can even get dirty and when this happens, it produces some squealing noise every time it opens and closes. The damper is not far from the fan, so when next you check the fan, you can just take a look at the damper to ensure that there is no rust on it. If it looks caked with grime, then it may just need changing.

Check the Water Inlet Valve

If your refrigerator is only noisy at certain intervals and not necessarily often, the water inlet may be the culprit. When the water inlet valve malfunctions, it may not open at all times, hence obstructing water passage. Pay attention to the fridge to detect when the noise happens. If you notice the sound when you draw water out of your fridge or when your ice maker is filling, then your water inlet valve is most likely the culprit. One of the things that can cause this valve to malfunction is hard water.  it is possible that there is a build-up of mineral deposits that are constricting water flow or otherwise just causing the noise. On the other hand, it could just be that the valve is faulty and needs replacement. Maybe you have not changed it in a while, necessary wear and tear may cause it to now malfunction.

Tips to Avoid a Noisy Fridge

To repair a noisy fridge, adequate maintenance and routine checks are necessary. You have to take some preventive measures and not necessarily wait for a fault to the surface before servicing the fridge. However, if you are already bothered about keeping your fridge quiet, here are a few tips;

• Regularly clean the moving parts of your fridge
• Separate your fridge from the floor using a rubber mat
• Use a soundproof room divider to surround your fridge
• Build a soundproof cabinet solely for your fridge
• Soundproof behind your fridge

Lound Noise in Washing Machines

Whether old or new, front or top loading, whirlpool or Maytag and other brands, washing machines necessarily make some distinct noises as they cycle through their cleaning process. This noise is necessary and completely normal in a washing machine. However, when this noise gradually becomes excessive, it is clear that there is something wrong. The type of noise and when in the cycle it occurs often indicates what the problem may be, so listen carefully to determine the cause of the noise. 

The particular kind of noise your washing machine makes may provide some hints to troubleshooting where the fault may have come from. If you hear loud grinding. rumbling, squeaking and even heavy vibration during your washing machine’s washing cycle and you are able to pinpoint where such sound is coming from, then you may be on your way to successfully troubleshooting and solving some of your washing machine problems.

In case you are of the opinion that it is not affirmative that a noisy washing machine is not safe, well you may be right to an extent but regardless, it is important to bear in mind that every bad noise coming from a washing machine is a signal to what is to come.-What is coming is usually worse. The machine is not likely to blow up in the instant that you hear something wrong but it will cause further wear and possibly damage other parts, making repairs more expensive. The machine may spring a leak, causing water damage too. However, the worst that is likely to happen is damaging the machine to the point where it’s cheaper to replace than fix.

Most Common Washing Machine Noises: Causes and Fixes

Modern washing machines have been built in a way that guarantees complete ease of use. For most, all you need to do is toss your clothes into the washer and move on to doing other things-leaving the machine to do some magic. Hence, for the continuity of this high-level function, the least you can do is pay attention to your machine when it subtly cries for help through those unusual sounds. As much as some faults are fixable, some just aren’t fixable. Whether or not you will be able to solve your washing machine problem will depend on your DIY skills and sometimes the level of difficulty you are dealing with-You may attempt to fix your machine when you notice the following or refer to an expert if you can not fix the problem.

Noise When Filling With Water

A whistling or squealing noise when the washing is filling with water may be caused by a water feed line faucet needing adjustment, too much water pressure into the tub, or a clogged water filter. A way to quickly solve this problem is to keep the water faucets to the washer fully open. If that doesn’t work, slowly close the feeds to see if the noise diminishes or stops. If the noise stops with this minor adjustment, then it is probably a water pressure issue that should be fixed by adding a pressure valve to the household intake line. However, if the noise only ceases when the valve is fully shut then a clogged filter may be the culprit.

A clogged filter causes obstruction to the passage of water into the tub and as long as this persists, this will make some gurgling noise. Most washers only have a screen filter at the opening of the hot and cold water intakes to catch microscopic materials or dirt. For the washers, keep the water shut off and remove the feed hoses, have a towel handy to catch any water spillage. It is easy to remove and clean the screen once the filling hose is disconnected. However, if your washer is the one with an additional filter just inside the intake fitting, this may be more difficult to clean. You clean this model by removing the outer filter screen, insert a dry cloth into the intake and take it out, then do this again and repeat till there is nothing left, causing any blockage.

Loud Noise during the Spin Cycle

If you hear loud noise at the beginning of a spin cycle, it may be a result of an unbalanced road. You want to turn off the washer, and redistribute the loads in a way that it is not too concentrated on one side of the tub, when this is done, turn the washer back on and the noise should be gone. However, If the noise persists, you may be dealing with a more complicated issue than an unbalanced load- Turn the washer off again, remove the clothes from the tub, turn it on and again listen for the noise, if the noise is still there, it could be caused by any of the following; the drive pulley, clutch, belt, bearings, and motor coupling. Dealing with them one after the other is a good way to make your washing machine quieter.

Drive Pulley

The function of the drive pulley is to move the washer belt which in turn spins the tub where your load is sitting. Hence, a loud strained noise produced when your load is turned in may be a signal that your load is too much or too heavy, in which case a reduction is advised. On the other hand, this could also mean that the metal pulley is worn or damaged, if this is the case, then a replacement is necessary.

Belt

The washer belt can also become worn out at any point, but usually after a very long time of use. The result of this is a loud squeal during the spin cycle. If the wear is deep enough, deep to the point where there are small but visible tears on it, this can cause the belt to slip on the drive pulley and this is a worse situation because there is no force to tun the tub anymore. the belt may even break, causing damage to other parts of the washer. When the belt has gotten this bad, get a replacement for it.

Clutch 

The clutch of a washer regulates the speed and spin of the washer. It connects the drive system or transmission, whether direct drive or belt drive, with the tub. A worn or failing clutch commonly makes a loud noise as the tub spins. The easiest fix is to replace the clutch before it damages other machine parts.

Bearing

The drum or tub of a washing machine is placed on a bearing for easy rotation. The rotation of the drum is imperative for a washer to function. Without this action, the washer can not wash, nor can it spin. This spinning is largely aided by lubricants on the bearing. When this lubrication wears out, the washer will start making a squeaking/squealing sound. Hence,  Lubricating the bearing will extend its life. If the squeal turns into a grinding noise, the bearing needs replacing.

Motor Coupling

The motor coupling connects the washing machine motor to the transmission on direct drive washers. It is often made of plastic or a synthetic polymer and is designed to break if the washer is overloaded, which helps prevent damage to the motor and transmission. A broken coupling may result in noise during the spin cycle, but also means the washer won’t agitate or spin.

Grinding or Rumbling Noise

Your washer may make a loud grinding or rumbling noise if the load in it is excessive. You’ll find this trait a lot in GE washing machines (read on GE washing machine troubleshooting for details). However if after you made sure the load is not a problem, then it may be time to look somewhere else for the fault-  it could be the agitator dogs slipping due to wear. The dogs are located at the top of the agitator column and are reasonably easy to replace once the agitator is removed

In most cases too, a grinding may be an indication of a worn-out drive pulley. The noise may be worse even when you notice tears and cracks on the drive pulley. In this case, you most certainly need a replacement. The drum bearing could also be the culprit for this sort of noise, this happens when the lubricant on the bearing has worn out. A worn motor coupling can also grind during operation. It also results in slow noisy agitation or no agitation at all.

Another culprit for a grinding noise is the stator assembly. It causes a grinding noise during agitation. The stator creates an electromagnetic contact with the tub, so a cracked or damaged one could be responsible for the noise. Repair or replace the stator if cracked or the magnets are damaged.  In all these cases, the best fix for those faults is a replacement of the device in question or get your wahing machine replaced.

FAQs 

My machine makes Vibrates too loud, why?

Fair washing machine vibration is totaly normal in a washing machine. However, when this vibration is so much that floor around the machine is vibrationg too. This vibration becomes dangerous both to the washing machine and the area where it is kept. Excessive In order to stop washing machine vibrations, first inspect the base of the washing machine and make sure it is sitting properly. If it is not sitting properly, get a levelled base for it. If the problem persists, you may want to call an expert for inspection.

Do refrigerators normally make some sound?

Yes, refrigerators do make some sound while operating normally. If your refrigerator is making sounds like buzzing, hissing/rattling, popping, pulsating/whirring or air rushing, cracking/ thumping/creaking, water running, and gurgling/boiling/ sizzling, and the sound are not too loud, it is normal. But if these sounds are too loud or there is some other kind of noise coming out of your refrigerator, it might be better to look for the source of these sounds and get it fixed.

What are the tips for dealing with a noisy appliance?

A noisy appliance is a signal to a bigger impending danger. When your appliances make a particular sound out of the ordinary, you can tell that a specific part of it needs your attention. Dealing with a noisy appliance starts with understand the kind of noise it is making and thereafter conductiong some troubleshooting to detect where the sound or noise may be coming from. Once the above huddles are summounted comfortably, fixing the fault becomes a relatively easy task.