Refrigerator Making Strange Noises in Brea

Here in Brea, we see a lot of refrigerator noise complaints in the older ranch-style homes near Brea Boulevard and around the downtown area. These homes, built mostly in the 1960s and 70s, often have their refrigerators tucked into smaller kitchen alcoves where sound bounces off the walls and seems amplified. The original Whirlpool and GE units that were popular when these neighborhoods were developed are now reaching that 15-20 year mark where fan motors start wearing out and compressors begin working harder. We get calls almost weekly from homeowners who notice their fridge suddenly sounds like it's "working overtime."

The larger family homes up in Olinda Ranch and Country Hills present their own challenges. Many of these kitchens have secondary refrigerators in garages or utility areas, and Brea's inland location means those spaces can hit 90+ degrees in summer. When a condenser has to work in that kind of heat, especially with our dusty conditions from the nearby hills and remaining agricultural areas, the fans work overtime and components wear faster. Plus, Brea's mineral-heavy water leaves scale deposits that can cause ice makers and internal components to work harder and make more noise.