hOmeLabs Fan or Motor Bearing Wear

High-pitched squealing or chirping noise during operation

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Dry or worn condenser fan motor bearings, Worn tray motor bearings, Fan blade rubbing on housing

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety: Unplug before inspecting fans or motors.

Steps:

  • Locate noise source: Remove the rear cover and briefly power the unit to identify whether the noise comes from the fan, compressor area, or tray motor. Unplug again before touching anything.
  • Inspect fan: Check that the fan blade is not rubbing on the shroud. Reposition or tighten as needed.
  • Check for play: Gently wiggle the fan motor shaft. Excessive play or roughness indicates worn bearings.
  • Tray motor check: If noise occurs mainly during ice release, the tray motor bearings may be worn.

Fan and tray motors are not typically serviceable; replace the noisy motor assembly to prevent failure and further damage.

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Repair Difficulty

Medium 3/5

Required Part

Condenser Fan Motor
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