Sudden appearance extraneous sounds, such as crackling or clicking, often become a cause for serious concern for the owner of household appliances. The refrigerator, which just yesterday was working quietly and unnoticed, suddenly begins to make frightening sounds, breaking the silence in the apartment.
However, there is no need to panic ahead of time, since many types of noise are absolutely normal for modern cooling systems.
In most cases, a crackling sound indicates the physical processes of expansion of materials or cyclic operation of the compressor, and not a critical breakdown.
Understanding the nature of sounds allows you to quickly distinguish the normal operation of the unit from a real malfunction that requires the intervention of a technician.
You need to listen carefully to the nature of the sound and determine at what exact moment it occurs: during startup, during the cooling process, or immediately after shutdown.
Physics of the process: thermal expansion of materials
One of the most common reasons why a refrigerator makes a cracking noise is elementary physics.
The internal chamber and outer walls of the unit are made of plastic and metal, which have different coefficients of thermal expansion.
When temperature regime changes sharply, the materials begin to shrink or expand, creating a characteristic crackling sound.
This phenomenon is especially often observed in new models or after defrosting, when the temperature difference between the walls and the internal air is maximum.
If the crackling sound occurs periodically and is not accompanied by other signs of malfunction, such as lack of cold or hot walls, then There is nothing to worry about.
How to distinguish a normal crack from the noise of a breakdown?
A normal crack from plastic expansion sounds like short, rare clicks, similar to a hot kettle cooling down. The sound of a breakdown is most often continuous, humming or grinding in nature.
It is important to note that the intensity of such sounds may depend on the quality of the plastic used by the manufacturer.
Cheaper models may “shoot” louder due to the thin walls of the evaporator.
Installation problems and vibration of the case
Incorrect installation of refrigeration equipment is the second most common source of irritating crackling and buzzing.
If the unit is not level, vibration from operating compressor transmitted to the floor and housing, causing rattling and resonance.
Even minimal misalignment can cause internal tubes or structural elements to begin to touch each other or the walls of the cabinet.
☑️ Checking the installation refrigerator
To fix the problem, you need to arm yourself with a building level and check the position of the unit in space.
Height adjustment is made using twist-out support legs located in the lower front part of the device.
You should also make sure that the back wall of the refrigerator is not pressed flush against the wall.
Minimum a gap of 5-10 centimeters will ensure proper air circulation and reduce the risk of vibration noise.
The nature of the operation of the compressor and start relay
The heart of any refrigerator is the compressor, and its operation is rarely completely silent.
When the engine starts or stops, you can often hear a distinct click that it makes starting relay.
This element is responsible for applying voltage to the motor windings and then turning it off when the set temperature is reached.
If the clicks become too frequent or are accompanied by a buzzing sound that ends abruptly, this may indicate wear on the relay.
In such a situation, the engine is trying to start, but the protection is triggered due to overload, producing a characteristic metallic crackling sound.
Modern inverter models operate on a different principle, smoothly regulating speed, so there is no sound of a relay click.
However, they can also produce a low-frequency hum or crackling noise when the load on the system suddenly changes.
The influence of the No Frost system and defrosting
Owners of equipment with the system No Frost often encounter specific sounds that are absent in drip models.
Here, a crash can occur when the evaporator defrost system is automatically turned on.
The heating element heats up sharply, causing expansion of the plastic of the air ducts and the evaporator itself, which is accompanied by a loud crackling sound.
In addition, such refrigerators have a fan that can make noise if ice has formed on its blades.
Ice chips can get into the mechanism, causing periodic crackling when the impeller rotates.
⚠️ Attention: If a crackling sound in the No Frost system is accompanied by a lack of cold in the main chamber, the defrost sensor or heating element may be faulty. In this case, diagnostics by a specialist is required.
To check the condition of the fan, partial disassembly of the freezer is often required.
Independent intervention without skills can lead to damage to fragile plastic fasteners.
Fault diagnosis: table of symptoms
To accurately determine the cause of the noise, it is necessary to systematize the observed signs.
Below is a table that helps classify sounds and their probable sources.
This will help you make a decision: call a specialist or the problem can be solved yourself.
| Type of sound | Probable cause | Degree of danger | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rare clicks | Thermal expansion, relay operation | Normal | Observation |
| Loud crackling sound at start | Wear of starting relay | Average | Replacement of relay |
| Constant hum and crackling | Vibration of tubes, touching the body | Low | Bending of tubes |
| Sound of breaking ice | No Frost system, ice on the fan | Average | Defrost 24 hours |
| Metal grinding | Wear of compressor bearings | High | Replacement of the compressor |
By analyzing the data from the table, you can eliminate up to 70% of false alarms.
However, if the symptoms indicate a high degree of danger, you should not hesitate to contact the service center.
Mechanical damage and foreign objects
Sometimes the source of the crackling sound turns out to be tritely simple - a foreign object that has fallen into the operating area of the mechanisms.
This could be a label from a bottle, a piece of packaging, or even small kitchen utensils that fell behind the refrigerator.
Vibration causes these objects to move and knock on the metal parts of the unit.
How to find the source of vibration?
Put your hand on different parts of the body of a working refrigerator. In a place of strong vibration, the sound will be felt tactile. You can also gently (without any effort!) press the tubes from behind with your hand - if the sound disappears, then the tubes are touching each other.
It is also worth checking the internal shelves and drawers.
A loosely closed drawer or glass shelf lying askew can resonate and make a cracking noise when the compressor is running.
⚠️ Attention: Never try to forcefully straighten the copper condenser tubes on the back of the refrigerator. Copper is very soft and easily bursts, which will lead to freon leakage and expensive repairs.
Inspect the space around the refrigerator and inside the chambers for unnecessary objects.
Cleanliness and order are often the best allies for quiet operation of equipment.
When a call is needed masters
There are a number of situations when independent actions are not only useless, but also dangerous.
If the crackling sound is accompanied by a burning smell, smoke or sparking in the compressor area, the device must be immediately de-energized.
Continuous operation of the motor without stopping to rest is also an alarming signal.
In such cases, we may be talking about a serious breakdown compressor or a refrigerant leak.
Attempts to repair a sealed circuit with your own hands without special equipment are doomed to failure.
Professional diagnostics will allow you to accurately determine the unit that requires replacement.
Timely repairs are often cheaper than buying a new refrigerator after the old one has completely failed.
Why does a new refrigerator crack more than the old one?
New models often have more powerful compressors and thinner walls to increase usable volume. In addition, modern refrigerants can operate at different pressures, which changes the acoustics of the process. Usually, after 1-2 weeks of operation, the grinding of parts ends, and the noise decreases.
Can the crackling sound be associated with the quality of electricity?
Yes, power surges or low voltage in the network can cause a humming and crackling sound from the compressor, which is trying to start, but cannot reach the required speed. In such cases, it is recommended to use a voltage stabilizer.
Is it dangerous to ignore the crackling noise for a long time?
If the crackling noise is caused by vibration of the tubes, they can rub against each other, which will lead to a freon leak. If the reason is in the relay, the compressor winding may burn out. Therefore, it is not recommended to ignore strong changes in the background sound.