Refrigerators can be noisy (clicking, buzzing, humming, high pitched squeaks) and some sounds are just a normal process of refrigeration. Sometimes a refrigerator will develop a problem and a high pitched noise can be heard. To fix this issue you must determine the source of the sound. By doing so you can locate the problem and hopefully avoid calling an appliance repair company.
TO FIX THE NOISE COMING FROM YOUR REFRIGERATOR:
You first have to do a little easy investigating. What type of noise it is that makes the refrigerator sound as if something is wrong? Is it a squeaking noise, a clicking noise, a buzzing noise, a humming noise, a loud high pitch vibration noise, or an occasional rattling noise? How loud is it and how long does the sound happen? If it is not a continuous sound, how often does it occur? Is this affecting the proper operation of your refrigerator or is it just an occasional annoyance? These factors can help you identify the source of the problem to help you to determine what you need to do to fix it.
Open the fridge freezer and determine if the noise is coming from one or the other. If the noise is inside the refrigerator… it is the circulating fan. This fan’s purpose is to move the cool air from the freezer to your refrigerator. This fan can start to make different types of noises over time. Usually the circulating fan will need to be replaced. In some situations you can take the fan out clean it off and bend or straighten the blades to make the noise stop. Usually the noise is from the motor of the fan which is not fixable. Order a new circulating fan online will be inexpensive for you to repair the problem with your fridge.
If the noise is coming from the rear or back of the refrigerator, 2 things can cause the noise:
1. Compressor (see below for troubleshooting)
2. Condenser fan (see below for troubleshooting)
Common Fridge Compressor
Common Refrigerator Condenser Fan And Motor
Compressor: The compressor contains a motor that sits in a sealed case. If it becomes faulty it can make high pitch noises. If your compressor is causing the noise, the compressor needs to be replaced and this can be expensive. It may make more sense to just buy a new refrigerator if your compressor is shot.
Condenser Fan: If you find that the condenser fan is making the noise you can clean it off from dirt and lint. A dirty condenser fan can cause the noise you are constantly hearing. It is located near the compressor and can’t be missed if you are behind your refrigerator looking for it. You can also give the fan a few drops of oil as it may just need oil to lubricate it to stop the noise.
Another area that could be making a noise on your fridge is the very bottom. A drain pan is the only thing underneath the fridge but it may need to be repositioned as it could be vibrating and causing a noise.
Refrigerator Making an Odd Noise – Kenmore, Sears, Whirlpool, LG, Samsung, GE
Noisy Whirlpool Fridge Fan Motor Refrigerator Fix
If you have experience in fixing or repairing a refrigerator making a high-pitched noise, please leave a comment below to assist others.
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Written by Keith Schneerer
Certified Appliance Tech · Founder, RemoveAndReplace.com
Keith has spent 28 years repairing machines, starting as a military mechanic and later maintaining food processing equipment before moving into appliance repair. He founded RemoveAndReplace.com to share field-tested repair advice.
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i have kitchenaid refrigerator and making whistle sound and its coming from backside when compressor turn off then when fan turn on it make beeping sound two to three times and then it turn on so may be fan or compressor it self making that sound
My LG no-frost fridge freezer (GR-391SCA) was making a loud warbling/whining noise that I was sure was the freezer fan
After reading a few of your posts but as this fan is quite different to the ones seen I wasn’t sure what to do once I pulled off the inside cover in the freezer compartment.
The noise lessened quite significantly when I started to remove the inside cover off the back of the freezer wall.
It was previously so loud it had me up all night with the constant cycling of the fan.
Although the noise was less, after turning it off to check the fan more closely I noticed there isn’t a lot of ‘play’ in the fan.
It doesn’t wobble side to side and all over the place like others you have shown, but there is a little play between the lock on the front of the fan and the rear of the fan where it connects to the motor.
I thought perhaps that was lending it towards rubbing on the main cover thus causing the noise but there is no sign of a ‘wear pattern’ that might indicate that was the issue.
I decided to ring a local repairer for advice but nobody is returning my calls so I half put it back together by just sitting the back wall cover in place (it’s not clipped fully back in though) for now to put the freezer contents back in while I figure this out.
Though, the noise had now stopped altogether!
The freezer has still worked perfectly this entire time and it still is even a couple of hrs post partial put together – no frost or build up anywhere, good temp control, it was literally only the fan noise driving me up the wall and now that’s gone again.
Did you ever figure out the problem with your fridge, because my Gibson fridge is making this same sound even when it is unplugged for over an hour.
I have the same problem with my Whirlpool fridge.
Can you take a pic of what you did and e-mail to me?
My new Whirlpool fridge started to make a high pitched sound shortly after the compressor started.
Problem is from one of the 1/4″ copper tubes which is capped or in my case pinched off for inserting the refrigeration gas into the compressor.
I was acting as a tuning fork.
You could control the on/off of the noise by holding the piping.
Solution for me was some Styrofoam with a 1/4″ hole drilled in and some duct tape around the base of the piping to take away with vibration.
Noise stopped.
Hi my Westinghouse side by side makes loud vibrating metallic sounds everytime the motor kicks in what could be the cause?
I’ve got a loud clicking noise on my Samsung American fridge freezer which happens when I’m opening and shutting the fridge this can last a long time after it’s been open and shut what is it and is it costing me a lot of money in electricity.