Refrigerator
Refrigerator Making Noise: Buzzing, Clicking, Humming
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Prefer to read it? Quick checklist
- Which of these matches what you see right now?
- A click, drip, hiss, sizzle or crackle occurs during or after the defrost cycle: A normal defrost sound: A click, drip, hiss, sizzle or crackle occurs during or after the defrost cycle. (likely)
- Gurgling, boiling or knocking accompanies ordinary cooling and there is no temperature change: Refrigerant or compressor sounds are normal: Gurgling, boiling or knocking accompanies ordinary cooling and there is no temperature change. (likely)
- The sound changes after a door opens or as the refrigerator adjusts airflow: Fan speed or damper movement changes: The sound changes after a door opens or as the refrigerator adjusts airflow. (likely)
- None of these; show more: Which of these matches what you see right now?
- A repeated hum or click occurs about every 15 minutes while no water supply is connected: The ice maker hums while it has no water: A repeated hum or click occurs about every 15 minutes while no water supply is connected. (possible)
- A knock occurs when the refrigerator's water valve operates: Water pressure causes a hammering sound: A knock occurs when the refrigerator's water valve operates. (possible)
- The sound changes when nearby containers move or when the cabinet is pressed gently: A loose item or unlevel cabinet vibrates: The sound changes when nearby containers move or when the cabinet is pressed gently. (possible)
- None of these; show more: Which of these matches what you see right now?
- A new sound persists, grows louder or comes with warm compartments or an error code: An unfamiliar or worsening sound needs service: A new sound persists, grows louder or comes with warm compartments or an error code. (possible)
- None of these: Call a qualified technician. If none of these matches, stop and have a qualified technician inspect the appliance rather than opening it.
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Identify when the sound happens, not only how loud it is. This refrigerator noise guide compares the normal-sound descriptions that GE, Whirlpool and Samsung publish. A click after a power outage, a drip during defrost and a repeated hum while an ice maker has no water point to different checks.
Sounds that can be normal
1. A normal defrost sound
A normal defrost sound
A click, drip, hiss, sizzle or crackle occurs during or after the defrost cycle.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 5 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
GE says a defrost timer may click or tick. Water dripping into the pan beneath the refrigerator is also part of defrost. A self-defrosting model may hiss, buzz or sizzle as water reaches its heaters; an evaporator coil can crackle or pop as it cools afterward.
Note whether the sound is brief and follows a defrost cycle. Do not open the freezer panel to watch the heater. If the sound continues or frost blocks airflow, use the separate freezer frost guide and arrange service for internal parts.
2. Refrigerant or compressor sounds are normal
Refrigerant or compressor sounds are normal
Gurgling, boiling or knocking accompanies ordinary cooling and there is no temperature change.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 5 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
GE lists boiling, gurgling or knocking as possible sounds of refrigerant circulating. A click can occur when a control starts or stops the compressor. After a power outage, GE says a click may occur three to five minutes later as the compressor restarts.
GE also says refrigerators are designed to run 80% to 90% of the time and can approach continuous operation in humid heat. A steady hum is not enough to diagnose a failed compressor. Check whether both compartments remain at temperature and whether a code appears.
3. Fan speed or damper movement changes
Fan speed or damper movement changes
The sound changes after a door opens or as the refrigerator adjusts airflow.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 5 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
GE says a chirping, barking, woofing or howling sound can occur as the damper door opens and closes. Fan speed can change when the refrigerator responds to door openings. The timing and pattern help separate ordinary airflow changes from an unfamiliar noise.
Do not reach into a vent or remove a panel to look for a fan. If airflow is weak and one compartment warms, use the refrigerator cooling hub for the checks that apply.
4. The ice maker hums while it has no water
The ice maker hums while it has no water
A repeated hum or click occurs about every 15 minutes while no water supply is connected.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 5 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
GE says an ice maker can buzz or click repeatedly, including about every 15 minutes, while trying to fill without a water supply. A rattle can occur when the maker is on but not connected to water.
If the refrigerator is not connected to a water line, use the model’s control to switch the ice maker off. Do not disconnect or open the water valve to silence it. If the noise persists after the maker is off or accompanies a leak, request service.
For a maker that is connected but does not produce ice, use the ice-maker guide.
5. Water pressure causes a hammering sound
Water pressure causes a hammering sound
A knock occurs when the refrigerator's water valve operates.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
GE describes a water-hammer knock associated with high water pressure. Listen for the sound as the refrigerator fills or dispenses water. It differs from a steady compressor hum or a brief defrost click.
Do not adjust the household pressure or disconnect the supply line based only on a sound. If the knock is forceful or water connections vibrate, ask a plumber or appliance technician to inspect the installation.
6. A loose item or unlevel cabinet vibrates
A loose item or unlevel cabinet vibrates
The sound changes when nearby containers move or when the cabinet is pressed gently.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
A container or item touching the cabinet can change the sound as the compressor runs. GE’s cooling guidance also says a refrigerator should be level enough for doors to close properly. Check nearby objects and accessible shelves without moving the appliance.
Do not tilt or pull a connected refrigerator to test a vibration. If the cabinet rocks or a panel vibrates internally, ask an installer or technician to check it.
7. An unfamiliar or worsening sound needs service
An unfamiliar or worsening sound needs service
A new sound persists, grows louder or comes with warm compartments or an error code.
- Difficulty
- Pro
- Time
- 60 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
GE says other sounds may require a technician. Arrange service when a noise is new, becomes louder, continues outside the patterns above, or comes with a temperature change or code. Record the sound and when it occurs, such as after a door closes or while water dispenses.
Keep the model number and code available. Do not buy a compressor, fan or valve based on sound alone. The technician can inspect the unit without the owner opening an electrical or sealed area.
What Whirlpool and Samsung add to GE’s list
GE’s page is a good start, but two other manufacturers describe sounds GE does not, and they split the same sounds differently. Reading all three makes it easier to tell a normal sound from a fault.
Whirlpool’s sound-by-sound list
Whirlpool’s normal-sounds page does not label each sound as normal or a problem, but its explanations make the distinction clear.
| Sound | Whirlpool’s explanation | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Buzzing | The water valve buzzes or clicks when the ice maker has no water supply, briefly while dispensing, or while the ice maker fills | Constant buzzing means no water supply; connect one or turn the maker off |
| Chattering while dispensing | A kinked water line | Straighten the line |
| Grinding or squeaking | Doors rub against cabinets or other surfaces when opened | Check door clearance and level the unit |
| Gurgling or bubbling | Refrigerant flowing through the tubes and defrost water flowing to the drain pan | None |
| High-pitched or pulsating | Compressor fans adjusting to optimize performance | None |
| Popping or cracking | Inside walls contracting and expanding | None |
| Rattling or vibrating | Refrigerant or water flow, items on top of the unit, or an unlevel refrigerator | Secure items on top, level the unit, use a solid floor |
| Sizzling, hissing or dripping | Water dripping onto the defrost heater during defrost | None |
| Humming | Compressor and fans maintaining temperature, common after doors are opened | Level the unit; keep coils clean if accessible |
| Clicking or tapping | Relays and control boards switching components | None |
| Swooshing or whooshing | Evaporator and condenser fans circulating air | None |
If a sound persists or seems unusual, Whirlpool directs you to its customer service or service scheduling page.
Samsung’s noise page
Samsung’s US page sorts sounds the same way, and it says some noise is normal and new refrigerators may be louder as they settle. It adds that ice maker or compressor noise should never be loud enough to interrupt conversation.
- Snapping, crackling, popping. Plastic parts contract and expand as the temperature rises and falls, usually during defrost, and it is more common in a new refrigerator. Samsung says it should sound like ice cubes in a warm drink. If it is very loud, request service.
- Buzzing and humming. An ice maker with no water line should be turned off to prevent the noise and damage. With a water line connected, a quieter buzz is water filling the maker, and it gets louder with high water pressure. The compressor hum can change speed, click or sputter as the fan stops.
- Beeping with the doors closed. A blinking display means a temperature is too high, which can be normal after a power outage. A door alarm needs the doors opened, any obstruction cleared and the doors closed firmly. If the beeping began after the doors were removed and reattached, the wire harness may not be connected correctly. Samsung’s check for the source is to unplug the refrigerator: if the beeping continues, it is not coming from the refrigerator.
- Blowing and whistling. Circulation fans, rare but normal. Samsung says to move the refrigerator about an inch, keeping two inches of clearance on top, sides and back.
- Banging. Ice falling into the bucket sounds like building blocks tumbling onto a table and is normal. A loud, consistent thump that is not falling ice, and persists, needs service.
- Grinding. Usually the ice dispenser motor pushing ice forward, especially with crushed ice. It is normal while dispensing. If it is very loud, or happens without dispensing ice, request service.
- Squeaking hinges. For a new or unused unit, confirm the doors were reinstalled correctly, that the leveling legs fully touch the floor and the wheels do not, and wait a week. Any owner can spray hinges with food-grade silicone spray, but Samsung says not to use WD-40 because it removes grease.
- Rattling. Something behind the refrigerator may be touching it, and moving it out about an inch may help. Samsung says brief, very quiet rattling for under 10 seconds as the compressor stops is normal.
The one sound Samsung says is not normal
A fan that hits ice and stops when you open the door points to ice buildup around the fan. Samsung says it recommends service, because a manual defrost only temporarily fixes it and the noise will likely return. For a temporary fix it describes removing perishables and emptying the ice bucket, placing towels under the refrigerator, unplugging it and propping the doors open, replacing wet towels until they stop getting wet or 24 hours pass, then plugging it in, closing the doors and waiting about two hours before restocking. Samsung warns not to use a hair dryer or any other heat source because it will damage the refrigerator. See the freezer frost buildup guide for the cause of the ice.
Compare sound with refrigerator behavior
The sound table is useful only alongside the cooling pattern. GE’s source describes normal gurgles and defrost drips, while the separate refrigerator cooling hub explains display modes, door seals and airflow. If a noise appears while the refrigerator still holds temperature and matches GE’s list, observe whether it stops on its own. If cooling changes, treat that as a second symptom and report both.
Frequently asked questions
Is a gurgling refrigerator noise normal?
GE says boiling, gurgling or knocking can be refrigerant circulating. If the sound is new or cooling changes, record when it occurs and contact service.
Why does my refrigerator click after a power outage?
GE says a click can occur three to five minutes after a power interruption while the compressor restarts. A recurring electrical trip is different and needs service.
Why does the ice maker buzz when it is not connected to water?
GE says a maker can buzz or click while trying to fill without a water supply. Switch it off if it is not connected, using the model instructions.
When should I call about a refrigerator noise?
Call if a sound is unfamiliar, becomes louder or comes with a warm compartment, leak or code. GE says other sounds may need a technician.
Sources
- Normal Sounds on RefrigeratorsGE Appliances Support
- Normal Run Time for RefrigeratorsGE Appliances Support
- Refrigerator Normal Sounds and NoisesWhirlpool Product Help
- Understanding the different noises coming from your Samsung refrigeratorSamsung Support (US)