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 refrigerators run quieter, sounds may be detected that
were present in older refrigerators, 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
Clicking
Air rushing or
whirring
Gurgling or
boiling sound
Thumping
Vibrating noise
Buzzing
Humming
Hissing or
popping
POSSIBLE CAUSE
• Freezer control
(A)
clicks when starting or
stopping compressor.
• Motorized device
(B)
sounds like an electric
clock and snaps in and out.
• Freezer fan
(C)
and condenser fan
(D)
make
this noise while operating.
• Evaporator
(E)
and heat exchanger
(F)
refrigerant makes this noise when flowing.
• Ice cubes from ice maker (select models) drop
into ice bucket
(G)
.
• Compressor
(H)
makes a pulsating sound
while running.
• Refrigerator is not level.
• Ice maker water valve
(I)
hookup (select
models) buzzes when ice maker fills with
water.
• Ice maker
(J)
is in the ‘ON’ position without
water connection.
• Compressor
(H)
can make a high-pitched hum
while operating.
• Defrost heater
(K)
hisses, sizzles or pops when
operational.
SOLUTION
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
• See page 3 for details on how to level
your refrigerator.
• Normal operation
• Stop sound by raising ice maker arm
to
OFF
position (see page 16).
• Normal operation
• Normal operation
J
G
A
F
C
I
E
K
D
H
B
B
