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 | Freezer control (A) clicks when starting or | Normal operation |
| stopping compressor. |
|
| Defrost timer or electric damper control (select | Normal operation |
| models) (B) sounds like an electric clock and |
|
| snaps in and out of defrost cycle. |
|
Air rushing | Condenser fan (D) makes this noise while | Normal operation |
or whirring | operating. |
|
| Freezer fan (C) makes this noise while | Normal operation |
| operating. |
|
| Freezer fan (C) slows to a stop as the freezer | Normal operation |
| door is opened. |
|
Gurgling or | Evaporator (E) and heat exchanger (F) | Normal operation |
boiling sound | refrigerant make this noise when flowing. |
|
Thumping | Ice cubes from ice maker drop into ice bucket (G). | Normal operation |
| Dispenser ice chute (H) closing. | Normal operation |
Vibrating | Compressor (I) makes a pulsating sound while | Normal operation |
noise | running. |
|
| Refrigerator is not level. | See Leveling (see page 6). |
Buzzing | Ice maker water valve (J) hookup buzzes when | Normal operation |
| ice maker fills with water. |
|
Humming | Ice maker (K) is in the ‘on’ position without | Normal operation |
| water connection. |
|
| Ice auger (L) hums as auger agitates ice during | Stop sound by raising ice maker arm to |
| dispensing. | OFF position. See Automatic Ice Maker |
|
| for details (page 10). |
| Compressor (I) can make a high pitched hum | Normal operation |
| while operating. |
|
| Solenoid valve (M) operating ice chute door. | Normal operation |
|
|
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