The short answer
An Amana AQF that has become loud is usually transmitting rather than failing. Six model numbers carry this family badge, and the matrix on this page is the list. Levelling, a stray object against a fan blade and a blade catching ice account for most of it, and only one item on the ranked list below is actually urgent.
The noises worth acting on
- A chirp, squeal or grind from inside the freezer — A sound that vanishes the instant the freezer door opens, because the door switch cuts the evaporator fan.
- A clicking that repeats every few minutes — A compressor start relay dropping out and retrying makes an even, repeating click with no cooling to show for it.
- A buzz or hum that has become noticeably louder — A hum you feel through the floor more than you hear in the room, which is transmission rather than a failing motor.
- A knock or thump on start and stop — A single thump as the compressor starts and another as it stops, which is tubing touching the cabinet.
- NEAR MISS — the noise comes with a warm cabinet — Noise plus loss of cooling is a different diagnosis, and treating it as a noise problem wastes the visit.
Ranked causes for these models
- Cabinet levelling and floor contact — First here, because the matrix on this page spans enough models to cross more than one production run and the cheapest explanation for "it got louder" is that the appliance moved, not that a part failed.
- Condenser fan obstruction — Second: the machine compartment is where debris ends up, and a fan clipping a stray wire or a piece of packing sounds far worse than it is.
- Evaporator fan bearing or ice contact — Third: it needs the freezer opened and the door switch held in, which is why it sits behind the two checks that need neither.
- Compressor or start device — Last: least likely of the four and the only one where continuing to run the appliance is a bad idea.
The check order on these models
- Check the cabinet is level and sitting on all its feet — First because it costs nothing and because a cabinet that has been moved is the commonest reason an appliance suddenly sounds worse.
- Make sure nothing touches the sides or the back — A cabinet resting against a wall or a neighbouring unit turns a normal hum into a resonance that fills the room.
- Pull the unit out and watch the condenser fan — With the cabinet itself cleared, the next candidate is the fan that runs in the open compartment.
- Open the freezer and hold the door switch in — Last, because it is the check that requires the freezer emptied if it turns into a repair.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch it off at the breaker before working on it; a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Empty the cabinet before you move it, and never break ice off a fan blade with a screwdriver — the tubing immediately behind it punctures easily and takes the sealed system with it.
Models in the AQF family
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| AQF1201TRW | amana:refrigerator:aqf |
| AQF1613TEW | amana:refrigerator:aqf |
| AQF1613TEW* | amana:refrigerator:aqf |
| AQF2013TEW | amana:refrigerator:aqf |
| AQF2013TEW* | amana:refrigerator:aqf |
| AQF2023TEW | amana:refrigerator:aqf |
The service-call line
Call once the sound has been located behind the freezer rear panel, or when it tracks the compressor exactly. On the AQF line an owner can level the cabinet, clear an obstruction and say which compartment the noise comes from; replacing a fan motor, a relay or a compressor mount is a service call.
Nearest pages of this class
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
