Refrigerator Making Noise? What the Sound Is Telling You

Most refrigerator noises are normal: a low hum from the compressor, a gurgle as refrigerant moves, a crack or pop as the freezer warms up during defrost. The noises worth worrying about are new ones. Loud buzzing, grinding, rattling, or a click every few minutes while the fridge stays warm usually points to a fan, the compressor relay, or a frozen-up ice maker.

The quickest way to sort it out is to figure out where the sound is coming from and when it happens.

Common causes, by sound

Steady hum that got louder. The compressor and condenser fan sit at the bottom back. If the condenser coils are packed with dust and pet hair, the compressor runs longer and harder, and you hear it more. On a lot of newer models the compressor is variable-speed, so it ramps up after you load groceries. That’s normal.

Squeal or chirp from inside the freezer. That’s almost always the evaporator fan. Open the freezer door and press the door switch. If the noise changes or stops, the fan motor bearings are going. Ice building up around the fan blade makes a similar ticking or scraping sound.

Rattle from the bottom. Check the drain pan and the kick plate first. Sometimes it’s just a loose pan vibrating. If it’s the condenser fan, you’ll hear it get louder when the compressor kicks on.

Click, then silence, every few minutes, and the fridge is warm. That’s the start relay or overload trying to start the compressor and failing. Don’t ignore this one. Food goes bad fast once the compressor stops running.

Knocking or banging. Usually the ice maker dumping ice or the water valve slamming shut. A loud bang when the ice maker fills can mean water pressure in the house is high.

Grinding. Ice maker gears, or a fan blade hitting ice. If the grinding comes with a frost-covered back panel in the freezer, there’s a defrost problem.

Safe checks you can do

1. Level the fridge. A fridge that rocks will rattle. Adjust the front feet so it sits firm and leans back just slightly.
2. Clean the condenser coils. Unplug it, pull off the kick plate or slide the fridge out, and vacuum the coils and fan area. Bay Area kitchens with pets need this once or twice a year.
3. Look in the freezer for frost. Thick frost on the back wall or around the fan cover means the defrost system isn’t working. See our page on freezer frost buildup.
4. Switch the ice maker off overnight and through the next day. Quiet now? That was the noise.
5. Feel the temperatures. If the noise comes with a warm fresh-food section, read refrigerator not cooling before you call.

Don’t take panels off the back of a plugged-in fridge, and don’t try to free a frozen fan by chipping ice. You’ll crack the liner or cut a wire.

When to call a pro

Call us if the fridge is clicking and not cooling, if a fan is squealing (it will quit eventually), if there’s frost buildup that keeps coming back, or if the noise started right after a power outage. We carry common fan motors, relays and ice maker parts on the truck and use OEM parts. Own a high-end built-in? We work on those too: Sub-Zero. Samsung and LG owners can check Samsung or LG error codes first.

More on what we fix: refrigerator repair in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Need a tech? Call (415) 585-5900 or text us, or book online. We’re licensed & insured and EPA certified, and we serve homes across the San Francisco Bay Area. Same-day service available. The $219 service call is free if you have us do the repair.

FAQ

Is it normal for a refrigerator to hum?

Yes. A steady low hum from the compressor is normal. A hum that’s much louder than it used to be, or a hum with no cooling, is not.

Why does my fridge make a popping or cracking noise?

Plastic liners expand and contract as the freezer cycles through defrost. It’s normal, especially at night when the kitchen is quiet.

Why is my refrigerator buzzing?

Buzzing is often the water valve filling the ice maker, or a fan rubbing on ice. If it buzzes and there’s no water line hooked up, turn the ice maker off.

Can a noisy fridge stop working?

It can. A squealing fan or a clicking compressor relay usually fails completely within weeks. Catching it early is cheaper than losing a freezer full of food.