27
Operating Sounds
Improvements in refrigeration design may produce sounds in your new refrigerator that are different or were not
present in an older model. These improvements were made to create a refrigerator that is better at preserving food,
is more energy efficient, and is quieter overall. Because new units run quieter, sounds may be detected that were
present in older units, but were masked by higher sound levels. Many of these sounds are normal. Please note that
the surfaces adjacent to a refrigerator, such as hard walls, floors and cabinetry may make these sounds seem even
louder. The following are some of the normal sounds that may be noticed in a new refrigerator.
SOUND POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION
Clicking
Air rushing
or whirring
Gurgling or
boiling sound
Thumping
Vibrating
noise
Buzzing
Humming
• Freezer control (A) clicks when starting or
stopping compressor.
• Defrost timer or electric damper control (select
models) (B) sounds like an electric clock and
snaps in and out of defrost cycle.
• Condenser fan (D) makes this noise while
operating.
• Freezer fan (C) makes this noise while operating.
• Freezer fan (C) slows to a stop as the freezer
door is opened.
• Evaporator (E) and heat exchanger (F)
refrigerant make this noise when flowing.
• Ice cube s from ice maker drop into ice bucket (G).
• Dispenser ice chute (H) closing.
• Compre ssor (I) makes a pulsating sound while
running.
• Refrigerator is not level.
• Ice maker water valve (J) hookup buzzes when
ice maker fills with water.
• Ice maker (K) is in the ‘on’ position without water
connection.
• Ice auger (L) hums as auger agitate s ice during
dispensing.
• Compre ssor (I) can make a high-pitched hum
while operating.
• Solenoid valve (M) operating ice chute door.
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• See Leveling,page s 4-5.
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• Stop sound by raising ice maker arm to
OFF position. See Automatic Ice Maker,
page 14 for details.
• Normal operation
• Normal operation