Fridge Making Strange Noises
Gurgling, bubbling, clicking, and cracking sounds from a fridge or freezer are usually normal. A high-pitched scraping or searing noise that starts and stops is not – it typically means the circulation fan is hitting ice build-up and needs attention. Defrost fully and check the door seal; if the noise returns, call an engineer.
Many modern fridges, fridge freezers, and freezers are noisier than older appliances. Most sounds are normal – but some indicate a fault. This guide covers the most common noises and what they mean.
Normal Fridge and Freezer Noises
Modern refrigeration appliances produce a range of sounds during normal operation. Gurgling, bubbling, and liquid movement sounds are caused by refrigerant gases being pumped around the sealed system. Clicking and whirring sounds come from fans switching on and off to circulate cold air around the compartments.
These sounds can also change with the seasons. In summer, a fridge or freezer works harder to maintain temperature, which can result in noticeably different or louder sounds. A sound that appears in winter and disappears in summer, or vice versa, is not necessarily a fault – it may simply reflect the appliance responding to ambient temperature.
Pay attention to any new sounds that develop, particularly if they are persistent. A new noise that was not there before is worth investigating, as it may indicate a developing fault.
Loud Cracking or Banging Noises From the Freezer
Loud cracking sounds and occasional bangs from a freezer are common in modern appliances and are usually normal. Many instruction manuals specifically mention this. In modern refrigeration appliances, the evaporator – which reaches extremely low temperatures – sits behind a plastic back wall inside the freezer compartment. This plastic panel can freeze onto the evaporator surface. During the automatic defrost cycle, as the ice between the panel and the evaporator melts, the panel contracts and pulls away, producing the cracking or popping sound.
If the instruction manual mentions this type of noise, no action is needed.
High-Pitched Noise – Fan Hitting Ice
A high-pitched scraping, searing, or intermittent noise coming from inside the appliance – particularly one that starts and stops as the fan cycles on and off – is a sign of a fault. This is typically the circulation fan catching on ice that has built up around it.
Most modern fridge freezers have a fan behind the rear interior wall to circulate cold air. A fault can cause ice to build up progressively around this fan until it begins to make contact with the blades. The noise may start as a faint scraping and worsen over time, or it may stop entirely once the ice fully encases the fan and jams it. A jammed fan will cause the appliance to stop reaching the correct temperature – food will start to warm up.
What Causes Ice Build-Up Around the Fan?
Common causes include leaving the door open too often or for too long (particularly in a warm or steamy kitchen), a faulty door seal that allows warm air to be drawn in continuously, a faulty temperature sensor, or a faulty PCB. Some Samsung fridge freezer models have been particularly prone to this issue. It has been identified as a recurring fault on specific Samsung models caused by sensor or PCB failures.
What to Do
First, try a thorough defrost. Because the rear wall of a freezer compartment is heavily insulated, surface defrosting is rarely sufficient. To defrost properly, unplug the appliance and leave the doors open for at least 24 hours, with towels down to absorb the melt water. This allows the ice behind the back wall to thaw fully.
If the noise disappears after defrosting but returns, the underlying cause needs to be identified and fixed – the defrost will only provide temporary relief. Check the door seal for damage or poor fit. If the seal appears fine and the noise returns, an engineer should be called to investigate whether the sensor or PCB is faulty.
The appliance will no longer maintain temperature and food safety will be compromised. Do not rely on the appliance for food storage until the fault is resolved.
For a detailed guide on removing ice from behind the back wall: ice in the base of a freezer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my fridge freezer making a cracking or popping noise?
This is usually normal and is caused by the plastic rear panel inside the freezer compartment contracting and pulling away from the evaporator during the automatic defrost cycle. The evaporator gets extremely cold and the panel can freeze onto it – the cracking sound occurs as it releases. Many instruction manuals specifically mention this. If the noise is very loud or new, check the manual for reassurance.
What causes a high-pitched noise from inside a fridge freezer?
A high-pitched or scraping noise that starts and stops is most commonly caused by the internal circulation fan hitting ice that has built up around it. This is a fault. Left unresolved, the ice will eventually jam the fan completely and the appliance will stop cooling. Defrosting the appliance fully may resolve it temporarily, but the underlying cause – often a faulty door seal, sensor, or PCB – needs to be identified if the noise returns.
Why does my fridge make different noises in summer and winter?
The compressor and fan work harder when the ambient room temperature is higher, which can produce louder or different sounds in summer. Conversely, some appliances may make different sounds in winter when the room temperature is lower. These seasonal variations are normal as long as the appliance is maintaining its temperature correctly.