Understand the noises coming from your Samsung refrigerator

The plastic parts of the refrigerator contract and expand as the temperature of the refrigerator rises and falls, causing cracking noises. This usually happens during the defrosting cycle and is much more common in new refrigerators as they acclimate to their new home's humidity and temperature levels. This is a normal sound for all refrigerators to make, and typically fades with time.

The volume of this noise should be comparable to placing ice cubes in a warm drink, or the sound of Rice Krispies (the refrigerator is much bigger so it will sound a bit louder, but still relatively quiet and dismissable).

However, if the cracking, popping, or snapping is very loud, visit our Service Centre to request service.

If you do not have a water line connected, turn off the ice maker to avoid this noise and damage to your refrigerator.

If you do have a water line connected, you may still hear this noise (at a much quieter volume). This is the sound of water filling the ice maker, which will be louder if water pressure is too high. You can try turning down the water pressure, as long as you can still dispense 3/4 cup in under 10 seconds, which is the minimum pressure required.

These sounds also describe the sound of the compressor. It sounds just like a quiet engine or motor. It will start up, run at low or high speed (and can change speeds), might make some clicking as it operates, and maybe sputter a bit as the fan slows to a stop.

If the buzzing or humming is very loud, visit our Service Centre to request service.

If your refrigerator is beeping even when the doors are closed:

If the beeping continues, visit our Service Centre to request service.

This sound comes from the refrigerator's circulation fans. It's rare, but normal. Slightly repositioning the fridge (moving it an inch or so, while leaving 2 inches of clearance on the top, sides, and back) can sometimes reduce this noise.

If the whistling or blowing is very loud, visit our Service Centre to request service.

Refrigerant moving through the cooling system changes from liquid to gas and back again. This makes a gurgling or bubbling sound.

Water dripping onto the defrost heater makes a hissing or sizzling sound.

If the hissing sound is very loud, visit our Service Centre to request service.

As ice falls from the ice maker into the bucket, it sounds a lot like building blocks tumbling onto a wooden table. A similar noise might happen if something inside the refrigerator was unsteady and fell over.

If a thumping or knocking sound is consistent and very loud (and not the sound of ice falling in the bucket), visit our Service Centre to request service.

The ice maker can produce a grinding noise when ice is dispensed, especially when crushed ice is selected but even if it's just cubed ice. The sound is often the motor that's pushing the ice forward.

If the noise is very loud, or happens when you're not dispensing ice, visit our Service Centre to request service.

There's a few steps to try if you've got squeaky door hinges. The first three only apply if your refrigerator is new or unused.

If the noise continues, visit our Service Centre to request service.

The noise is caused by ice buildup around the fan. You can perform a manual defrost to get rid of the ice buildup and get rid of the noise, but only service will correct the original cause. If only a manual defrost is performed, the noise will eventually come back. This is why we recommend service for this issue.

If you perform a manual defrost, DO NOT USE A HAIR DRYER or any other heat source on the refrigerator to speed up defrosting, as this WILL damage the refrigerator.

To perform a manual defrost:

Something behind the fridge might be rattling against it. Move it out an inch to see if that stops the noise.

Rattling can also happen for a couple moments when the compressor turns off, as it putters to a stop. This would be less than 10 seconds at a time and very quiet, though.

If the rattling is very loud, visit our Service Centre to request service.