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A Samsung Family Hub refrigerator and a 4-Door French Door Samsung refrigerator

Understand the noises coming from your Samsung refrigerator

A Samsung Family Hub refrigerator and a 4-Door French Door Samsung refrigerator

A refrigerator is never completely quiet, even when it's new. In fact, new fridges may be louder as they settle into place. Still, noises from your ice maker or compressor should never get so loud that it's interrupting conversation. This guide will review potential noises and advise you of any steps you should take when there is something you can do to prevent the noise.

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Snapping, crackling, and popping

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 Support Center to request service.

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Buzzing and humming

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Beeping or chiming

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Blowing and whistling

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 Support Center to request service.

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Hissing, bubbling, or gurgling

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 Support Center to request service.

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Banging

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 Support Center to request service.

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Grinding

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 Support Center to request service.

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Squeaking (from door hinges)

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Fan hitting ice (and stops when door is opened)

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Rattling

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 Support Center to request service.

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