Fridge Making Strange Noises? What Each Sound Means

A fridge making noise is not always a problem. Every refrigerator hums when the compressor runs, clicks when it cycles off, and cracks now and then as the freezer warms during defrost.

The sounds worth paying attention to are new ones, or ones that get louder over a few days. Here is how our technicians sort out refrigerator noises on service calls across Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph.

Before you look behind or under the fridge, unplug it.

1. Buzzing or Humming That Gets Louder

A steady hum is the compressor doing its job. If it turns into a loud buzz, or the fridge hums but never seems to cool, the compressor may be struggling to start. A faulty start relay is a common cause, and it is a fairly simple repair for a technician.

If you have an ice maker and the water supply is shut off, you may also hear a buzz as the water valve tries to fill with no water. Turn the supply back on or switch the ice maker off.

2. Clicking Every Few Minutes

One click when the fridge cycles on or off is normal. Repeated clicking every few minutes, with the fridge slowly warming up, usually means the compressor is trying to start and a protective overload is shutting it off.

Leaving it that way can damage the compressor, so it is worth a call sooner rather than later.

3. Rattling

Check that the fridge is level and that nothing on top of it or beside it is vibrating.

With the fridge unplugged, pull it out and look at the drain pan underneath. It can shift and rattle against the frame. Loose water lines on the back are another common source.

4. Grinding, Chirping or Squealing

These noises usually come from a fan. The evaporator fan sits inside the freezer behind the back panel, and the condenser fan sits near the compressor at the bottom rear. If the noise gets louder when you open the freezer door, the evaporator fan is the likely suspect.

Sometimes the fan blades are hitting a buildup of frost. That points to a defrost problem, which needs a proper diagnosis.

5. Gurgling, Bubbling or Hissing

Gurgling and bubbling are usually refrigerant moving through the lines, especially right after the compressor shuts off. A short hiss or sizzle during defrost is water dripping onto the defrost heater. Both are normal.

A constant hiss combined with poor cooling is not normal. It can mean a refrigerant leak, and sealed system work is strictly a technician job.

6. Cracking or Popping

Plastic liners expand and contract as temperatures change, so they can pop or crack, particularly during defrost. If the sounds are occasional and the fridge holds temperature, you can safely ignore them.

7. Dripping or Sloshing

Dripping sounds usually come from defrost water on its way to the drain pan. If you see water pooling inside the fridge or under the crisper drawers, the defrost drain may be blocked. On many models, flushing the drain with warm water is a safe homeowner fix.

Check the Temperature Too

A noise tells only part of the story. Put a thermometer in a glass of water on the middle shelf overnight. The fridge should sit between 1.5 and 4 degrees Celsius, and the freezer at about minus 18 degrees Celsius.

If you ever smell burning plastic or see scorch marks near the back of the fridge, unplug it and call a technician. Do not keep using it.

Hear Something Odd? Let Us Take a Listen

Most fridge noises have a clear cause and a straightforward fix. Al's Appliance handles fridge repair in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, and refrigerator repair in Guelph from our Holliday Street location, all done in your home. If the repair does not make sense for an older unit, we also carry new, used and scratch and dent refrigerators with delivery available.

Call 519-824-8828 or book online at alsappliance.ca. A noisy fridge is much easier to fix before it stops cooling.