Refrigerator Making Unusual Noises What’s Normal and What’s Not

Many refrigerator sounds are part of normal operation, including buzzing or clicking from the water valve, popping as the walls expand and contract, and gurgling during defrost. Persistent grinding or rattling, especially alongside poor cooling, is the pattern worth booking a diagnosis for, while a vibration usually points to leveling or something touching the cabinet.

An unusually noisy refrigerator can be frustrating, especially when it interrupts a normal household routine. A symptom alone does not identify a failed part, so start with observations that are safe, repeatable, and useful if you later arrange a Kenmore service visit.

This guide separates routine care from work that requires testing or disassembly. Do not bypass a lock, safety switch, or error message to keep an appliance running. Taking a few notes now can make the eventual diagnosis faster and more accurate.

Start with the simple conditions

Move items away from the cabinet, confirm the refrigerator is level, and leave clearance so nothing behind or above it can vibrate. Make the check with the appliance in its normal position and without forcing panels, fittings, or controls. If the result changes after a simple adjustment, run one normal cycle or operation before drawing a conclusion.

Hums, gurgles, clicks, and occasional pops can be normal, but persistent grinding or rattling paired with poor cooling is different. Look for a pattern: whether the issue happens every time, only with a particular load or setting, or after the appliance has been running for a while. That distinction is more valuable than repeatedly restarting the appliance. Whether the sound is steady, intermittent, or tied to ice or water dispensing narrows the source far better than volume does.

Which sounds does the manual list as normal?

The use-and-care manual for one Kenmore side-by-side lists normal sounds and their sources. Buzzing or clicking comes from the water valve, and cracking or crashing is ice being ejected. Popping is the cabinet walls expanding and contracting, pulsating or whirring is the fans and compressor adjusting, and rattling can come from the water line or refrigerant flow.

Water running or gurgling is defrost, and a sizzling sound is water dripping on the heater during defrost. Your own manual lists the sounds for your model.

Safe checks that protect the appliance

Consult the use-and-care manual for model-specific controls, filter access, and maintenance intervals. Clean only parts described as user-serviceable, use the recommended cleaning products, and refit every removable part exactly as it was designed to sit.

Before trying another cycle, clear obstructions, reduce an unusually heavy load, and make sure airflow, water supply, or door clearance is not being restricted. Avoid repeated resets: they can hide an intermittent fault and may leave water, heat, or pressure where it should not be.

• Record any displayed message or error code before clearing it.
• Check visible hoses, vents, seals, and plugs without moving electrical connections.
• Use one controlled test rather than several back-to-back attempts.
• Notice if the sound follows ice or water dispensing, which often explains clicking or crashing.
• Confirm the leveling feet are firmly on the floor.

Why do the room and the load change what you hear?

The same manual says the compressor and fans of an energy-efficient refrigerator run at lower speeds, so longer run time is normal, more so in a warm room or after loading food. A steady, even hum is the machine working, not a sign of trouble.

A rocking cabinet is a different matter. If the refrigerator rocks, the manual says to lower the leveling feet through the base grille so it sits firmly. Items stacked on top or touching the wall can also hum against the cabinet, which is why moving them is the first check. Rear covers stay on.

Know when the symptom needs diagnosis

If the basic checks do not change the symptom, stop at the user-serviceable boundary. Internal wiring, heating circuits, pumps, motors, refrigerant lines, gas connections, and control boards need the correct test equipment and a technician who can verify the repair safely.

Arrange service promptly when performance is getting worse, the appliance trips a breaker, leaks near electrical parts, smells hot or burnt, makes a new grinding noise, or cannot complete a normal cycle. Do not continue operating an appliance that gives a safety warning.

What to tell the technician

Share the model number, the exact symptom, when it began, what settings were selected, and the results of the safe checks above. A photo of a code or a short description of the sound can also help, but never remove a cover to obtain it.

Careful observation is not a substitute for repair, but it is the best first step. Address the simple conditions, preserve any useful error information, and leave electrical, gas, sealed-system, and internal mechanical work to a specialist Kenmore technician.

Common questions

Why does my refrigerator gurgle or hiss?

Water running or gurgling is listed as a normal defrost sound, and sizzling is water dripping on the heater during defrost. Check your own manual for the sounds it describes.

What is the crashing sound from the freezer?

On the Kenmore side-by-side manual, cracking or crashing is ice being ejected into the bin. A cycle of ice dropping is expected with an ice maker.

When is a refrigerator noise a reason to book service?

A new grinding or a persistent rattle that does not change after leveling and clearing the cabinet, especially with warm food, deserves a diagnosis. A sound alone does not identify the part, so describe when it occurs.

Need help now? Visit our services page or contact us.

Official manuals and support notes are available on Kenmore Support.

Write down the full model number before ordering parts. Board and sensor revisions can change which part number is correct.

A single power reset can clear a temporary fault, but repeated returns of the same code usually mean a physical cause remains.

Keep vents and filters clear between visits. Restricted airflow often mimics electrical or sensor failures.

If water, burning smells, or sparking are present, stop using the appliance and arrange a professional inspection.