Fridge noises: what is normal and what means trouble

Fridges are never completely silent. They hum, click, gurgle and occasionally pop. Most of those sounds are completely normal and just mean the appliance is doing its job. Others are early warnings that something is wearing out. Knowing the difference can save you from a sudden failure, and from a lot of unnecessary worry.

Normal sounds

• A low hum: the compressor running. It should be steady and not too loud.
• Gurgling or bubbling: refrigerant moving through the pipes, especially when the compressor starts or stops.
• A click when the fridge starts or stops: the thermostat or relay switching.
• A soft whoosh or fan noise: the fan moving air across the coil in a frost-free model.
• Occasional cracking, popping or ticking: plastic and metal parts expanding and contracting as temperatures change.
• A trickle or dripping: defrost water running to the drip tray.
• A buzz or water-filling sound: the ice maker filling.

Sounds that need attention

Loud buzzing or humming

A compressor that has become much louder than before may be worn or mounted badly. A loud buzzing that comes and goes can also mean the compressor is struggling to start. If it is accompanied by warm food, call a technician.

Repeated clicking

If the fridge clicks every few minutes and the compressor never runs for long, the start relay or overload protector may be failing, or the compressor is trying to start and cannot. This often ends with a fridge that stops cooling.

Rattling or vibration

Often caused by a loose drip tray, an unlevel fridge or items touching the back of the unit. Check that the fridge sits level and that it does not touch the wall or cabinets. If the noise persists, a loose compressor mount or fan blade may be to blame.

Squealing or chirping

A high-pitched squeal usually comes from a fan motor with a worn bearing. It might be the evaporator fan in the freezer or the condenser fan at the back. Fan motors are inexpensive parts, but if ignored they can fail and cause temperature problems.

Scraping or grinding from the freezer

A fan blade hitting a build-up of ice often makes a scraping sound. It usually means the defrost system has stopped working and ice has formed around the fan. Do not chip the ice. Turn the fridge off and let it defrost, then have the defrost system checked.

Knocking or banging

Deep knocking from the compressor area could indicate internal damage. If it happens along with overheating or poor cooling, the compressor may be reaching the end of its life.

Constant running with a roaring noise

A dirty condenser coil or a failing condenser fan makes the fridge run louder and longer. Cleaning the coil is often enough to restore normal operation.

What to do when you hear something odd

• Check that the fridge is level and not touching walls or cabinets.
• Check the drip tray and look for loose items behind the fridge.
• Vacuum dust from the condenser coil, which is usually at the back or under the fridge.
• Open the freezer door and listen for the fan.
• Note when the sound occurs: on startup, during running, or only with the door open.
• If it is accompanied by warm food, burning smells or constant running, switch the fridge off and call a technician.

When a noise is just a noise

If the fridge is cooling well, the temperatures are stable and the sound has always been there, it is probably normal. New noises are what matter. A change from the usual pattern, or a sound that gets steadily worse, deserves a closer look.

If your fridge is making a noise you do not like, call us. We can often tell what it is from your description, and we diagnose and repair household fridges on-site across Durban and the surrounding area.