Owners of household appliances are often faced with a situation when Samsung refrigerator extraneous sounds begin to make, disturbing the peace in the apartment. Instead of the usual smooth hum of the motor or silence in idle mode, the device begins to click, crackle, or even shoot. Such manifestations can be either an absolutely normal physical process or a signal of a serious malfunction of the internal components.
Understanding the nature of sound is the first step to solving the problem. Refrigeration equipment consists of many materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion, which often causes acoustic effects. However, you should not ignore sudden changes in the sound background, especially if they are accompanied by malfunctions in the cooling system.
In this article we will analyze in detail why a Samsung refrigerator is cracking and will help you determine whether an immediate call for a technician is required or the situation does not require intervention. A sharp metallic crackling sound, accompanied by the compressor stopping, most often indicates an electrical malfunction of the start relay. Let's consistently analyze all possible scenarios.
Natural physical processes: when noise is the norm
Many users panic at the first sounds, not knowing what thermal expansion materials is the normal operating mode. The inner walls of the chamber, the evaporator and the plastic elements of the housing are constantly heated and cooled during the cyclic operation of the unit. When the temperature changes, plastic and metal change their linear dimensions, which causes a characteristic crackling sound.
Especially often, such sounds occur immediately after the compressor is turned off or at the time of its startup, when the temperature difference is the sharpest. If your Samsung No Frost refrigerator makes sounds similar to the cracking of branches in a fire, but the food is cooling normally, most likely there is nothing to worry about. This “breathes” the plastic of the internal lining.
- 🔹 Quiet crackling of the plastic in the first hours after defrosting or first installation.
- 🔹 Short clicks when switching from cooling mode to standby mode.
- 🔹 Gurgling and hissing caused by the movement of refrigerant through the system pipes.
It is important to distinguish these sounds from mechanical knocking. If the crackling sound is rare and is not accompanied by vibration, then deformation of materials is the only reason. Over time, when the equipment “gets used” to the temperature conditions, the frequency of such manifestations may decrease, but they will never completely disappear.
⚠️ Attention: If a cracking sound began to be heard immediately after transporting the refrigerator in a horizontal position, let the equipment stand upright for at least 4-6 hours before turning it on. This is necessary for oil to drain into the compressor.
Problems with the No Frost system and ice
Modern models Samsung are equipped with an automatic defrosting system, which can also become a source of noise. In the freezer compartment, ice periodically forms on the evaporator, which is removed by heating elements. The process of ice melting and falling to the bottom of the chamber or onto the heater can be accompanied by loud clicks and crackling sounds.
If the drainage system is clogged, the water does not drain on time and freezes, forming ice plugs. During subsequent defrosting, these blocks of ice may crack with a characteristic sound reminiscent of a gunshot. The fanfan itself may also make noise if ice has formed on its blades and they touch the walls of the case or wiring.
To diagnose this problem, partial disassembly of the freezer is often required. It is necessary to check the condition of the evaporator and make sure that the air dampers are working correctly. The jamming of the damper that regulates the supply of cold air also causes a periodic crackling sound when the electric motor tries to open or close the channel.
Regular maintenance helps to avoid excessive ice formation. Even in No Frost systems, it is recommended to carry out preventive defrosting if you notice a decrease in operating efficiency.
Malfunctions of the starting relay and compressor
The most alarming symptom is a loud crackling or clicking sound when you try to start the engine, after which the compressor hums for several seconds and turns off. In this case, the culprit is most often starting relay. This small element is responsible for starting the motor, and when it breaks down, the contacts begin to spark, producing a characteristic crackling sound.
If the relay is working properly, but the engine still does not start the first time and makes metallic clanging sounds, the problem may lie in the compressor itself. Wear of internal mechanical parts, jamming of the piston group or broken rod lead to loud noise. In such cases, motor-compressor requires replacement, since, as a rule, it cannot be repaired.
Diagnostics of the relay is quite simple for an experienced technician: the back cover is removed, and when the refrigerator is turned on, the area near the compressor is listened to. If a series of quick clicks is heard (click-click-click) and the engine does not start, the relay needs to be replaced.