Troubleshooting

Normal 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.

 

ICE MAKER: (if equipped) The ice maker

 

 

will occasionally generate a rattling sound

 

 

when the ice cubes are ready to drop down

 

 

into the ice bin. Also, the motor that ejects

 

 

the ice from its tray prior to dropping the

 

 

ice may also be detectable. These are

 

DEFROST TIMER: Frost-free

normal sounds necessary for making ice.

 

refrigerators have a defrost timer

DEFROST HEATER: During

that will generate a clicking

the automatic defrost cycle, a

sound when it cycles the unit

sizzling sound may be heard

into and out of defrost cycle.

as water droplets come into

 

contact

with the defrost

 

heater. This is a normal

 

sound heard during defrost.

 

FREEZER

COMPARTMENT

 

CONTRACTION AND EXPAN-

 

SION: A popping sound may

 

occur in the freezer when the

 

unit starts up due to contraction

 

or expansion of the materials in

 

the freezer area.

 

REFRIGERANT FLOW: The flow of the

 

refrigerant in your refrigerator may cause a

 

gurgling or rattling sound when the unit is

 

running or just after the unit cycles off. The

 

refrigerant is still flowing in the tubing.

 

AIRFLOW SOUNDS: Both the freezer

 

evaporator fan and the condenser fan at the

 

bottom of the cabinet will create airflow

 

sounds. The evaporator fan is circulating the

 

cold air throughout the refrigerator and freezer

 

compartments. The condenser fan is removing

 

the heat generated when the unit is cooled.

 

WATER VALVE (if equipped): A buzzing

 

sound may be detected in the back of

 

the unit when the ice dispenser calls for

 

the water valve to open to fill the ice

 

maker tray. Following the ejection of the

COMPRESSOR: In order for a new

ice, there may be some water dripping

sounds when the trays are being filled.

refrigerator to run more efficiently,

 

the refrigeration system may run

 

longer to keep food at the desired

CABINET LEVELING: An unlevel

temperatures for freshness. That

cabinet may cause rattling or vibrating

new, high efficiency compressor may

noises. This can be fixed by adjusting

run longer and generate sounds such

the wheels or levelers properly.

as a higher pitched hum or pulsation.

 

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Maytag 3013912910 important safety instructions Troubleshooting, Normal Operating Sounds