Loud humming, scraping or cracking in refrigerators can indicate a defective Compressor or temperature sensor. What Noise is better for you to repair or replace the device?

The most important things at a glance

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• Where is the refrigerator noise coming from?
• A refrigerator should be noisy at most
• Fridge hums continuously
• Compressor keeps turning on
• Vibrations and loud humming outside the device
• Noise resembles a cockroach
• Crackling, crackling or bubbling
• Reduce the volume of the refrigerator

Many things would not be possible without them: refrigerators. Nevertheless, many people in the kitchen prefer to hide them in kitchen cupboards. However, the devices do make themselves felt – through loud humming, gurgling or cracking. Not all noises are harmless. They can also indicate a defect in the device.

Where is the refrigerator noise coming from?

Due to the way refrigerators work, they always make noise. It is usually the compressor that keeps the interior temperature constant. If the refrigerator is switched on, i.e. connected to the power supply, the running noise of the compressor and sometimes also a vibration noise caused by it can be heard.

If you hear a gurgle or a knock, this can indicate an inferior compressor. However, these noises do not occur continuously, but only occasionally. When measuring refrigerator volume, the volume of such additional noise is not taken into account.

Typical noises of the refrigerator and the cause:

• Hum / Purr: Compressor
• Click: temperature controller, thermostat
• Bubbling / Gurgling: Refrigerant
• Noise: Airflow – insofar as it is a no-frost or multi-zone unit
• Buzz: Pump – if the device has a water tank
• Cracking: material expansion

A refrigerator should be noisy at most

Over the years, refrigerators have become relatively quiet – the volume they emit is typically between 35 and 45 dB (decibels). Older models are much louder.

You can find out how loud a refrigerator is from the energy label of the device.

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There are refrigerators that work without a compressor and are therefore much quieter. Cooling is mostly done by alternative methods. However, their energy consumption is much higher.

How loud the refrigerator can be also depends on its location. In a heavily frequented room with a lot of background noise, 50 dB is perceived as relatively quiet. However, if the device is in the study or in another place where concentration is required, this can already be interpreted as noise. It can only have a negative impact on health if the noise is permanently and constantly louder than 65 dB .

If you hear these sounds, you should act

It is normal for the refrigerator to make noise. Nevertheless, a few of them can indicate a defect in the device. Then you should have your refrigerator checked, repaired or replaced by a professional.

Attention
Due to the electronics, you should not attempt to repair the refrigerator yourself .

Fridge hums continuously

If the refrigerator hums continuously, this may be due to a defect in the temperature sensor or thermostat. Another indication of this is a layer of ice inside or a slight scraping noise.

What can you do?

• Check the interior temperature.
• Check for frost or ice buildup in the fridge.

Compressor keeps turning on

The compressor starts when the interior temperature has changed. Therefore it can only be heard occasionally. In the meantime, the refrigerator should be quiet or make very little noise.

Info
In most refrigerators, the compressor starts every 15 to 30 minutes.

If the compressor runs continuously or very frequently, the interior temperature is not correct. This can be due to a defective seal on the refrigerator door or defective insulation on the appliance. In addition, the refrigerator door should be adjusted correctly and closed completely. In some cases, the temperature sensor may also be defective.

What can you do?

• Clean the seals.
• Check for cold air escaping through the refrigerator door.
• Put a powered flashlight in the fridge and turn off the light in the room. If there is visible light coming from the interior, the door will not close properly.
• Check the interior temperature.
• Remove the layer of ice in the refrigerator or defrost the appliance.

If you cannot find the fault, contact a professional. You should complain about new devices and exchange them.

Vibrations and loud hum

If you hear vibration noises from the device after you have moved or transported it, the cause does not have to be just the compressor. It’s also possible that the tubes and the condenser – the grille on the back – will rub against each other. They were either assembled incorrectly or their position has changed due to incorrect transport. In addition, the pipes may have been attached too tightly to the outside wall or pushed closer to it.

Vibrations and loud humming outside the device

If the humming or whirring does not come from inside the refrigerator or if other unusual noises can be heard, this can have two causes:

• The refrigerator is too close to the wall so that it scrapes against it as soon as the compressor starts.
• The built-in refrigerator is not installed correctly. This causes strong vibrations, which cause objects in the cabinet to rub against each other and cause noise.

What can you do?

• There should be a minimum distance of ten centimeters between the wall and the refrigerator.
• Check that the refrigerator has been adequately fastened and installed in the cabinet. If necessary, move the items in the closet slightly apart.

Fridge squeaks or creaks

A squeaking or creaking is not uncommon in devices with a no-frost function. These noises are usually caused by the air flap.

What can you do?

• Clean the air flap and put some silicone grease on the hinges.

Noise resembles a cockroach

If the noise from the refrigerator sounds like scraping, the following components may be defective:

• the temperature fuse,
• the defrost control
• the control board,
• the compressor.

As a result, there is too much frost and a thick layer of ice. The blades of the fan then rub against the deposits.

What can you do?

• Defrost the device completely and check if the noise is still there.
• Use a multimeter to check accessible components such as the temperature fuse or the defrost heater. However, it is advisable to contact a professional.

Crackling, crackling or bubbling

If, instead of a hum, you hear noises resembling cracking, crackling or bubbling, this may indicate that foreign matter such as moisture or engine oil has gotten into the cooling circuit.

What can you do?

• Contact a professional.

Noises whose causes can be easily eliminated

Loud refrigerator noises can have other reasons that do not indicate a defect. They are easy to fix, so the noise is quickly reduced. Which includes

• incorrectly inserted shelves,
• friction of the fan on an object,
• Fridge is too full
• Thermostat is set too cool.

Reduce the volume of the refrigerator

How hard the compressor has to work to cool the interior depends on the ambient temperature. If the room is relatively warm – for example in summer or due to the heat from the heating in winter – this can have a negative effect on the background noise of the refrigerator. You can reduce the noise with simple tricks.

To reduce the volume of the refrigerator, you can:

• move the fridge. It should not be placed next to a heat source – heater, oven, dishwasher – or exposed to strong and prolonged sunlight.
• rarely open the refrigerator door. As a result, the temperature in the interior remains constant for longer. The compressor therefore has to cool and start less.
• Clean the refrigerator seals regularly and check them at the same time. Only if the insulation is intact can the cool air not escape from the interior of the device. The desired temperature remains constant and the compressor has to do less.
• clean the appliance regularly (at least every two weeks) and defrost it (at least twice a year). It is also important to clean the back of the device.
• only put in food that is at most room temperature. Hot food overloads the device.
• align the device correctly. It should stand up straight.
• use two individual devices instead of a fridge-freezer combination.

Source:uslifestyler

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