Suddenly appearing extraneous sound during operation Home appliances are always a cause for concern, especially when it comes to a refrigerator that runs 24/7. The situation when you hear that clicks in the refrigeratorcan be caused either by absolutely harmless physical processes or by serious damage to the compressor or start relay. Understanding the nature of these sounds will help you save money on calling a technician or, conversely, prevent food spoilage due to sudden failure of the unit.
In this article we will analyze in detail the mechanical and electrical causes of clicks. You will learn to distinguish between normal operating noise and signs of a problem that requires immediate attention. It is important not to ignore repeating signals, since timely diagnosis often prolongs the life of expensive equipment.
The unit can produce sounds of different tones and frequencies. Sometimes it is a single dry click when turned on, and in other cases it is a series of frequent clicks, accompanied by an attempt to start the motor. The nature of the sound directly depends on the unit in which the failure occurred. Let's look at the main scenarios why your equipment began to behave noisily.
Natural causes of noise and thermal expansion
Before you panic and look for the service center number, you should exclude physics. Most modern refrigerators, whether Indesit, LG or Atlanthave a plastic inner casing or plastic shelves that respond to temperature changes. When cooling or heating, materials compress and expand at different rates, which causes characteristic clicks.
Most often, such sounds occur immediately after the compressor is turned on or some time after it stops. This is due to the fact that thermal expansion plasticity occurs unevenly. If the clicks are rare, are not accompanied by the hum of the motor, and the products continue to freeze, then from a technical point of view the unit is fully operational.
It is also worth considering the design features of the system No Frost. In these models, fans and defrost heaters are constantly running, which may make sounds similar to clicking or cracking. This is a normal part of the system's operating cycle.
Owners of new models should get used to the sounds of the electronic valves that regulate the flow of refrigerant in different chambers. These sounds can be quite loud and resemble short knocks.
Problems with the starting relay and compressor
If you hear a series of rapid clicks, followed by a humming sound from the motor, and then another click and silence, this indicates a problem with starting the engine. In this case start relay tries to start the compressor, but due to overload or malfunction it opens the circuit. This is the most common reason why the refrigerator clicks but does not cool.
The relay is a small unit that is attached to the side of the compressor. Inside it there is a coil and contacts, which over time can burn or stick. If the mechanism is worn out, it cannot keep the starting winding on long enough to accelerate the motor rotor.
In more serious cases, clicks may indicate turn-to-turn short circuit in the windings of the compressor itself. The engine tries to start, consumes a huge current, the protection relay trips and opens the circuit. The cycle is repeated until the compressor cools down or burns out completely.
How to check the relay yourself?
To check the relay, you need to carefully remove it from the contacts of the compressor. Shake it near your ear: if something rattles inside, it means the mechanical part is damaged and needs to be replaced. You can also “ring” the contacts with a tester, but this requires skills in working with multi--
Pay attention to the condition of the wiring going to the compressor. If the contacts are oxidized or weakened, a micro-sparking may occur at the junction, which also makes a sound similar to cracking or clicking.
Deformation of tubes and ice crust
Another physical cause of noise may be the contact of the internal tubes of the cooling system with the housing or with each other. When the temperature changes, the copper or aluminum tubes may shift slightly, causing a metallic click. Usually this is not dangerous, but it can irritate the ears.
A more serious situation occurs when excess ice forms in the system No Frost . Ice may block the fan or press on the air duct dampers. When the motor tries to turn the blades through the ice porridge, characteristic clicks and crackles are heard.
In this case, it is necessary to run the refrigerator completely. Leave the doors open for at least 24 hours (preferably two days) to allow any hidden ice in the evaporator to melt. Often after such a procedure, extraneous sounds disappear. defrosting refrigerator. Leave the doors open for at least 24 hours (preferably two days) to allow any hidden ice in the evaporator to melt. Often after this procedure, extraneous sounds disappear.
⚠️ Attention: If after defrosting the clicks resume after a couple of days, then the defrosting cycle is broken. The evaporator heating element, defrost sensor or timer may be faulty. Operating in this mode will damage the compressor.
Also check that the condenser tubes (located at the rear) are not touching the cabinet walls or floor. The vibration of a running motor can cause periodic impacts of metal on metal.
Diagnostics using the sound table
To simplify troubleshooting, use our summary table. It will help to compare the nature of the sound with the probable cause.
| Sound type | Frequency | Probable cause | Degree of danger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single dry click | When turned on/off | Thermal relay or thermostat | Normal |
| Series of frequent clicks | Every 2-5 minutes | Start relay malfunction | High |
| Crackling and crunching | Periodically | Ice freezing on the fan | Average |
| Metal clanging | Constantly during operation | Vibration of tubes against the body | Low |
| Humming + click | Cyclic | Compressor jamming | Critical |
By analyzing the data from the table, you can roughly understand in which node to look for the problem. However, remember that acoustic diagnostics does not provide a 100% guarantee without instrumental measurements of the parameters of the electrical network and freon pressure.
Checking the thermostat and electronics
In older models of refrigerators, the mechanical one is responsible for turning the motor on and off. thermostat. Inside it there is a bellows tube and contacts. When the desired temperature is reached, the contacts open with a characteristic click. If this click becomes too loud or repeats too often, the thermostat may be stuck or lost calibration.
In modern electronically controlled models (Smart Cooling, Multi Flow), the role of the thermostat is performed by the temperature sensor and the main control module. In this case, clicks can be produced by solenoid valves that redirect freon. If the valve is dirty or stuck, it may make rattling sounds.
Check the doors for tight fit. If the door does not close tightly, the compressor will work almost non-stop, trying to compensate for the heat loss. This leads to overload and frequent activation of protective mechanisms, which is accompanied by clicks.
☑️ Diagnostics of the thermostat
Sometimes the problem lies in power surges in the network. If your apartment has unstable electricity, the refrigerator's protective relay will constantly operate, making clicking sounds.
Mechanical damage and foreign objects
Do not discount trivial reasons. Check to see if anything has fallen behind the refrigerator. A coin dropped on the stomp of a compressor will ring and click with each vibration. Also, objects lying on the top cover of the unit may be a source of noise.
Inspect the back of the refrigerator. If the compressor is mounted on bolts with rubber washers, check their condition. If vibration supports has dried out or burst, the motor will hit the metal frame, creating a loud knock.
In refrigerators with a system No Frost the source of sound may be the damper motor that regulates the supply of cold air to refrigeration chamber. If the gears of the mechanism are worn out, they will slip and click.
⚠️ Attention: When carrying out any work to eliminate noise (except defrosting), be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply. Working with live internal components is life-threatening.
When you need to call a technician
There are a number of situations when self-repair not only will not help, but will also aggravate the situation. If you notice that after a series of clicks, the compressor hums for several seconds, and then there is a loud click and silence sets in, this is a sign of a “wedge” of the compressor or a break in the starting winding.
Also, the help of a specialist is necessary if the clicks are accompanied by the smell of burning or melted plastic. This indicates that wiring or contacts are overheating somewhere, which creates a risk of fire.
If the refrigerator has stopped freezing, and the light inside is on and only clicks are heard, it means the cooling cycle has been interrupted. In this case, you need a professional diagnostics using a manometric manifold to check the freon pressure.
Is it possible to replace the relay yourself?
Replacing the start relay is one of the simplest operations. If you know how to hold a screwdriver in your hands, you can do it. The main thing is to buy a relay of exactly the same model as was previously installed, or its complete analogue.
Do not ignore the problem. Long-term operation of the refrigerator in constant start-up mode (when it clicks) leads to rapid burnout of the compressor windings. Repairing a compressor or replacing it is much more expensive than replacing a relay or performing defrosting.
Why does the refrigerator click immediately after being turned on?
A click immediately after being plugged into the network is the normal operation of a thermal protection relay or starting device. If there are a lot of clicks and the refrigerator does not start, it means that the relay is faulty or the compressor is jammed.
Is it dangerous if the refrigerator crackles as if it were shooting?
The cracking sound can be caused by thermal expansion of the plastic (safe) or the operation of a fan touching the ice. If the sound sounds like an electrical discharge (sparking), immediately unplug the appliance.
Can a new refrigerator click?
Yes, new refrigerators often make sounds when the thermostats are first adjusted and the thermal expansion of new materials. Usually, after 2-3 days of operation, they get used to it and go silent.
What to do if it clicks, but there is cold?
If there is cold and the temperature is normal, most likely the reason is thermal expansion of the plastic or the operation of the dampers. Observe the device. If the clicks do not become more frequent and are not accompanied by other symptoms, repair is not required.