Is Your GE Refrigerator Making Loud Humming Noise? [Solved!]

You expect your GE fridge to make a humming sound during self-defrost or when the ice maker is filling up with water and during the usual running of the motor and compressor. But what if the noise is deafening loud? Then you have to ask, ‘why is my GE refrigerator making loud humming noise?’ 

Your GE refrigerator is humming loudly because the evaporator fan blade, compressor fan blade, air vents, or water inlet valve is obstructed. It could also be that the evaporator fan motor, condenser fan motor, or compressor is faulty, the icemaker lacks water supply, or just due to vibrations.  

Basically, there are at least nine reasons to explain why the humming is unusual.

For over a century, General Electric, famously known as GE, has been synonymous with producing quality and highly reliable appliances, including fridges. So, when such issues arise, it’s normal to worry.

The good thing is that the problems are DIY solvable, and I will show you how.

9 Reasons Why Your GE Refrigerator is Making Loud Humming Noise.

Below is a table summary indicating the potential cause of a loud humming GE fridge and its quick solution.

GE Refrigerator Making Loud Humming Noise? Here’s Why And How To Fix It:

Generally, your GE fridge is humming loudly because of any of the nine reasons discussed below:

1. Obstructed Evaporator Fan Blade

The evaporator fan blade, whose job is to assist the motor in recirculating cold air, can make a loud humming noise if obstructed by ice mass or anything else. So, it’s worth checking it out, and you can find it at the back of your GE fridge.

Quick Solution

First, the goal is to inspect the fan blade to identify and remove the obstruction. Here’s how to go about it:

• Unplug your GE unit from the power source
• Open up its freezer to identify the entire evaporator fan assembly
• Uncover the evaporator fan and try spinning it 360 degrees to locate an obstruction
• Once you encounter an obstacle, remove it
• Put the fan cover back and plug in your fridge
• Power the unit on to see if it’s still humming loud

If the humming continues after removing the obstruction, you should inspect the motor, as I explain next.

2. Faulty Evaporator Fan Motor

Since the motor moves the blade, you cannot overlook it when you suspect the source of the problem to be within the evaporator fan assembly. If the evaporator fan motor is faulty, you can expect it to hum loudly.

Thus, checking the motor out is essential, but you’ll require a multimeter like the AstroAI Digital Multimeter TRMS.

Quick Solution

Your goal here is to test the evaporator fan motor to see if it’s defective or not. If it is, then you should replace it. Here is how to go about it:

• Disconnect your GE unit from the power source
• Locate the evaporator motor at the back of your fridge and detach it from the wires that connect to it
• Use a multimeter to test it (the fan motor) for continuity
• If the multimeter shows that the fan motor lacks continuity, you should replace it
• But if there is continuity, it means the fan motor is okay, and so you should put it back and inspect other components

Overall, consider this GE Refrigerator Evaporator Fan Motor if you are looking to replace your faulty evaporator fan motor. You can view it to check for compatibility with your GE model.

After replacing the evaporator fan motor and putting everything back, you can power it on and test it to see if the loud humming is still present.

3. Obstructed Condenser Fan Blade

A condenser fan blade, whose job is to promote ventilation and temperature regulation, can make a loud humming noise if obstructed, just like the evaporator fan blade. And just like the evaporator fan blade, you can locate the condenser fan blade at the back of your GE unit.

You should inspect the condenser fan blade for obstruction and remove it.

Quick Solution

Here is how to go about identifying and removing what’s obstructing your GE fridge’s condenser fan blade:

• Unplug the GE unit and pull it away from the wall to access the condenser fan assembly properly
• Identify the condenser fan assembly and uncover it to reveal the blade
• Now try to spin the blade manually 360 degrees as you watch for the obstruction
• Remove the ice obstruction or allow it to defrost
• Put everything back, including the fan cover
• Plug the refrigerator to retest the humming sound

If the humming is still there after the above tip, you should check the condenser fan motor, as I explain below.

4. Faulty Condenser Fan Motor

A faulty condenser fan motor is likely to sound its frustration by humming loud. You should, however, confirm first that the fan motor is defective before considering a replacement.

That means you’ll need to use a multimeter, which I mentioned earlier, to test for the motor’s continuity.  

Quick Solution

You can check if you have a faulty condenser fan motor using these steps:

• Unplug your GE from the power source and move it away from the wall
• Identify the condenser fan motor at the back of your unit and disconnect it
• Use a multimeter to test the motor for continuity
• If there’s no continuity, you’ll need to replace the motor as it’s faulty
• But if there’s continuity, you’ll need to put everything back and explore other possibilities

Overall, consider GE WR60X10220 Condenser Fan Motor compatible with different GE fridges.

5. Worn-Out Compressor

Is your GE side by side refrigerator making loud humming noise? Then you should check the compressor.

The compressor is an essential part of the fridge whose role is to regulate the refrigerant gas flow. It receives low-pressure refrigerant and turns it into high-pressure gas.

Thus, if the compressor is faulty, the humming sound is not the only thing to concern you. You also have to worry about your fridge failing. As a result, you should ensure it’s in good condition.

Quick Solution

Your goal is to check the condition of the compressor to see if it is worn out and needs replacing. So, move the fridge away from the wall and power it on. Then pay attention to the noise coming from the compressor area (at the back of the refrigerator).

Overall, the cost of replacing a GE compressor is tantamount to buying a new fridge unit. Besides, it’s too technical to do the replacement, and for those reasons, I don’t advocate replacing the compressor.

But before you can do away with your fridge, allow a fridge expert to inspect it first. The problem might not be the compressor but something else.

6. Obstructed Air Vents

Though it’s tempting to pack food supplies close together in the fridge, it’s not a good idea. Their compactness blocks the air vents, forcing the refrigerator to produce a loud humming noise in frustration.

Quick Solution

Rearrange your food supplies in the fridge to ensure the air vents are open to facilitate good air circulation.

7. Obstructed Water Inlet Valve

If your fridge is humming louder when the icemaker fills up with water, the chances are that the water inlet valve is obstructed with mineral deposits. Usually, the mineral deposits accumulate overtime on the water inlet valve and may block it entirely.

And while the water doesn’t flow as it should, it produces a humming sound when forcing itself across the inlet valve.

Quick Solution

If you suspect an obstructed water inlet valve, inspect the valve and replace it if necessary.

Here’s how to go about it:

• Look at your GE fridge manual to see where you can find the water inlet valve. It’s generally at the bottom-left side of your GE fridge.
• Remove the back cover at the bottom-left side of the unit to expose the inlet valve
• Listen to the noise that the valve produces when the machine runs
• If the noise is too loud, then you have an obstructed inlet valve that needs replacing

Generally, you should switch the washer machine off if you plan to replace the water inlet valve. After that, you can go ahead and remove the bad valve and fit the new one.

And while speaking of a new inlet valve, you can go for the GE WR57X10026 Genuine OEM Inlet Valve, which comes with a bracket assembly for easy fitting. Just ensure it is compatible with your GE model.

8. Floor Vibrations

Is your GE Profile refrigerator making loud humming noise? Then it’s worth checking where it is standing. If the surface is non-uniform, there is always the risk of vibrating so loud and producing a humming sound during its running.

Quick Solution

Move the fridge away from the non-uniform surface to a uniform spot. If possible, adjust the feet to ensure they all touch the ground.

9. Icemaker Lacking Water Supply

The icemaker depends on the water supply for its operation. So, you cannot connect the icemaker and fail to connect the water supply. If you do, the fridge will produce a loud humming sound.

Quick Solution

Ensure you connect the ice maker with the water supply to avoid unnecessary noise and potentially damaging the icemaker.

People Also Ask

1. Why Is My GE Refrigerator Making a Loud Humming Noise?

Your GE refrigerator is making a loud humming noise because of a significant blockage or failure involving the condenser fan blade or motor, the evaporator fan blade or motor, the compressor, or the water inlet valve. Other reasons include floor vibrations, air vent obstruction, and a dry ice maker.

2. How Do I Stop My GE Refrigerator from Making Noise?

You can stop your GE refrigerator from making noise by first identifying the cause. Some excellent tips, however, to implement include:

• Removing obstructions around the fan blades
• Unblocking the air vents
• Replacing faulty motor
• Changing obstructed/defective filters
• Stationing the fridge on level grand

3. Why Is My Brand New GE Refrigerator So Loud?

Your brand new GE refrigerator is loud because of obstructed air vents from overstocking, the ice maker not connected to the water supply, or floor vibrations from positioning the unit on a non-uniform ground.

Concluding Thoughts On GE Refrigerator Making Loud Humming Noise:

Generally, you must check the evaporator fan motor or blade, the condenser fan motor or blade, the compressor, air vents, and the water inlet valve for faultiness or obstruction when your GE refrigerant is humming loud. Don’t forget to level the ground and connect the ice maker to the water supply.

Also Read:

• Are GE Refregerators Good Quality?
• How to Reset a GE Profile Refrigerator Ice Maker
• Common GE Profile French Door Refrigerator Ice Maker Issues Solved