When your refrigerator is noisy there can be many causes for the noise. Most of the sounds you will hear from a new or old refrigerator is normal operating sounds. Some noises from your refrigerator can be fixed by doing a small adjustment to the fridge. Below are all the different sounds and noises your refrigerator can make with explanations for each.
Noisy Refrigerator? – 20 Sounds your fridge makes and what they are.
Some new refrigerators have compressors that are able to regulate the temperature in a highly efficient way. Newer style compressors use less energy and are very quiet. When a newer more efficient compressor is operating normally, you will hear the normal operational noises your refrigerator makes. Most of these sounds are created by your fridge operating normally. Some sounds may sound loud or seem to occur very often. Find the different fridge sounds below and see what the sound is and how to make an adjustment if necessary to stop the noise.
1 – Vibration Noise
CAUSE = The refrigerator may not be level on the floor.
SOLUTION = Adjust the fridge legs or leveling screws and lower the leveling feet to the floor.
2 – Dripping Noise
CAUSE = The compressor refrigerant flow or the flow of the oil in the compressor.
SOLUTION = This sound is a common refrigerator operating sound and is completely normal.
3 – Hissing Noise
CAUSE = Flow of refrigerant and or the flow of oil in the compressor.
SOLUTION = This sound is a common refrigerator operating sound and is completely normal.
4 – Gurgling Noise
CAUSE = Can be heard when the ice melts during the defrost cycle and the water runs down and into the drain pan.
SOLUTION = This sound is a common refrigerator operating sound and is completely normal.
5 – Water Running Noise
CAUSE = May be heard when ice melts during defrost cycle and water drips into the drain pan.
SOLUTION = This sound is a common refrigerator operating sound and is completely normal.
6 – Buzzing Noise
CAUSE = Heard when the water inlet valve opens and closes to dispense water or fill the ice maker.
SOLUTION = If the refrigerator is connected to a water line, this is normal.
SOLUTION = If the refrigerator is not connected to a water line, turn OFF the ice maker.
7 – Clicking Noise
CAUSE = Heard when the water inlet valve opens or closes to dispense water and fill the ice maker.
SOLUTION = If the refrigerator is connected to a water line then this is normal and can be ignored.
SOLUTION = If the refrigerator is not connected to the water line then turn the ice maker to the OFF position.
8 – Repetitive Clicking Noise
CAUSE = Evaporator valve regulating the temp cooling operation.
SOLUTION = This sound is normal and is the rapid repetitive clicking sound as the fridge switches from cooling one compartment to another.
9 – Pulsating Noise
CAUSE = The fans or the compressor is adjusting to optimize the performance during normal operation.
SOLUTION = This sound is a common refrigerator operating sound and is completely normal.
10 – Whirring Noise
CAUSE = Fans or the compressor adjusting to optimize performance during normal compressors operation.
SOLUTION = This sound is a common refrigerator operating sound and is completely normal.
11 – Popping Noise
CAUSE = The contraction or expansion of the inside walls.
SOLUTION = This sound is a common refrigerator operating sound and is completely normal.
12 – Rattling Noise
CAUSE = The water lines moving against the refrigerator cabinet or possibly items on top of the refrigerator.
SOLUTION = Secure water lines to cabinet or remove items from the top of the refrigerator.
13 – Banging Noise
CAUSE = Items are on top of the refrigerator or the moving of the water lines against the refrigerator.
SOLUTION = Remove items from the top of the refrigerator or secure water lines to cabinet.
14 – Sizzling Noise
CAUSE = Water is dripping down on the heater during the defrost cycle.
SOLUTION = This sound is a common refrigerator operating sound and is completely normal.
15 – Clatter Noise
CAUSE = Ice cubes are falling into the ice storage bin.
SOLUTION = This sound is a common refrigerator operating sound and is completely normal.
16 – Creaking Noise
CAUSE = Ice cubes are being pushed out of the ice maker mold.
SOLUTION = This sound is a common refrigerator operating sound and is completely normal.
17 – Grinding Noise
CAUSE = Ice is being ejected from the ice maker mold.
SOLUTION = This sound is a common refrigerator operating sound and is completely normal.
18 – Cracking Noise
CAUSE = The ice cubes are being ejected from the ice maker mold.
SOLUTION = This sound is a common refrigerator operating sound and is completely normal.
19 – Water Dribbling Sound
CAUSE = Flow of compressor refrigerant or the flow of oil inside of the compressor.
SOLUTION = This sound is a common refrigerator operating sound and is completely normal.
20 – Compressor Running Too Long Noise
CAUSE = High efficiency compressor and fans running longer or slower to be more efficient.
SOLUTION = Large and more efficient refrigerators run longer at lower more energy efficient speeds. This is normal.
Do you have other reasons a refrigerator will make noises? Please leave a comment or question below.
Written by Keith Schneerer
Certified Appliance Tech · Founder, RemoveAndReplace.com
Keith has spent 30+ 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.
More about Keith →
Your point #11-POPPING caused from expansion/contraction is very valid, however, I have a small/cheap/dorm sized/12yo GE/No defrost/ just large enough for 2 trays freezer unit which distributes the cold to the box that after years of quiet service and sitting on a dead level tile floor, started making really loud bangs [no ticking/clinking/grinding/dripping] every couple of mins while running [from next room it sounded like a 22]…checked it and freezer was completely full of ice inside-not much ice on outside, so I put it on the patio for 2-3 hrs to thaw & dry, started it up and it runs as well as it ever did but slight compressor noise due to not a lot of insulation & design shortcomings, then after a week or so, it started making a much quieter [but definitely noticeable] ‘popping’ every few mins when it runs! Still does a great job of being an aux refer [too small to actually use it for ‘real’–drinks and main refer overflow] but the noise source is perplexing…… ideas? comments…guesses?
Kenwood american fridge freezer has error code E4 and is very noisy and unbearable. what may be the problem and can it be easily fixed? thanks
I recently purchased a second-hand Whirlpool fridge/bottom freezer. I moved it upright, but carrying it into the house we tipped it near horizontal for a short period of time.
From the start, it’s made very light noises and is now making a soft noise I can only describe as a chicken clucking. It does this regularly, but intermittently. It’s not major, but I’d like to know what it is and if I can fix it.
Our motor is making a grinding type noise in our Samsung refrigerator it never did that before in the 6 + years we’ve had it… any suggestions?
My refrigerator seems to make a whirring noise a lot. I downloaded an oscilloscope app and measured the frequency at 511 Hz. I know that if I generate that same tone I can cancel out the noise from the refrigerator, but I wonder what it might do to the compressor. Thoughts? Thanks.
Have replaced water filter in 2 yr.old GE side by side. Today water dispenser suddenly made loud buzzing/grinding noise when button is pressed. Continues to make loud noise erratically. What’s causing this scary sound?
My teen son slammed the door hard and now the compressor( bottom of fridge) makes a clicking sound almost constantly. It was not heard before the slamming. Is the compressor failing? We cleaned everything already.