My refrigerator is making strange sounds - What's wrong?

Question

My refrigerator has always been kind of loud, but lately it's been making the loud click sound like it's about to start running, then a high-pitched "weeeeee" sound, and another click, like it tried to start and couldn't. The only difference is that I turned the dial colder a couple of weeks ago. Could it have shorted something out? It's still keeping things cold. It's just the sounds that worry me.

Answer 1

Could be your evaporator (inside)motor.

Often when the bearings are worn you get that high pitched squeal.

Open your freezer section and you should hear it coming from behind a panel.

They can do that for months or suddenly bind and not work at all.

I would plan on getting it replaced. they are not that expensive.

Answer 2

If the Ice maker is installed and the arm is down on the ice maker, it can still call for water, which will send power to the water valve located in the back, bottom of the frige.  If the noise only happens once and a while, this could be the problem, make sure the arm is up on the ice maker, lifting the arm up will turn off the ice maker, if the doesn't stop the noise, it never hurts to try and call to see if the company will extend the warranty because it is so close to the end of your warranty.

Answer 3

Sounds like the condenser fan may be on its' way out.

They tend to make a sound like a bird chirping, as the bearings start to go bad.

Answer 4

Sounds like something is caught under the fridge, getting whacked by the fan as it rotates.  Get a flashlight and look underneath.

Answer 5

If it's still in warrantee, you may want to see if you can schedule a service call to have it checked out. I doubt if turning the dial to a colder setting would cause a problem.

Your description sounds like the auto ice-maker sound. Normally, when water comes through the pipe, it may make a whoosh sound. If you have the ice-maker function turned either off or on, you might want to read the manual for the refrigerator to see if it describes this sound for either the off or on setting.

The motor for the ice maker as it turns the ice into the tray can make an odd sound also.