General Information
©2007 Viking Preferred Service
11
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
Freezer control
clicks when starting or stopping
compressor.
Normal operation
Clicking
Defrost timer or electric damper control sounds like an
electric clock and snaps in and out of defrost cycle.
Normal operation
Condenser fan
makes this noise while operating.
Normal operation
Freezer fan
makes this noise while operating.
Normal operation
Air rushing or
whirring
Freezer fan
slows to a stop as the freezer door is opened.
Normal operation
Gurgling or
boiling sound
Evaporator
and heat exchanger refrigerant make this noise
when flowing.
Normal operation
Ice cubes from ice maker drop into ice bucket.
Normal operation
Thumping
Dispenser ice chute closing.
Normal operation
Compressor
makes a pulsating sound while running.
Normal operation
Vibrating noise
Refrigerator is not level.
See Leveling.
Buzzing
Ice maker water valve
hookup buzzes when ice maker fills
with water.
Normal operation
Ice maker
is in the ON position without water connection.
Stop sound by raising ice maker
arm to OFF position.
Ice auger
hums as auger agitates ice during dispensing.
Normal operation
Compressor
can make a high pitched hum while operating. Normal operation
Humming
Solenoid valve
operating ice chute door.
Normal operation