Why does the refrigerator crack during operation, what to do and how to identify the cause

The refrigerator is not a silent device. The equipment is constantly noisy due to its powerful engine. However, sometimes it happens that extraneous sounds are heard that were not there before. Most often, owners observe clicking sounds. In most cases, experts do not consider them problems. But it’s better to find out why the refrigerator is cracking in order to take the necessary measures.

How to solve a problem

Insufficient quality of capacitor fastening. The noise is accompanied by noticeable vibration.

What to do if strange sounds appear? You must adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

check the connection to the electrical network (installing a stabilizer will help to prevent power surges);
correct the position of the refrigerator body;
sometimes the noise is caused by the close distance of the equipment to the wall (the distance should be at least 20 cm);
adjust the springs that support the compressor;
check the serviceability of the fan (sometimes ice interferes with the normal functioning of parts. In this case, defrosting the equipment will help);
replace the relay;
check the pipeline (clogging can lead to an increase in the amount of work of the compressor);
check whether the door is tightly closed and what condition the seals are in.

Malfunction in the start-up relay. In this case, the refrigerator stops working, the light inside does not light and the temperature does not drop.

Sometimes the refrigerator may click and shoot sparks at the same time. Here the problem lies in the electrical component. First of all, you need to check the socket, plug, cable, and also the control module (due to burnout, it may make a cracking noise).

Read also: Metallurgical bases of Russia

In this case, you need to take the equipment to a service center or invite a technician to your home.

A malfunction of the thermostat, compressor motor and other more complex breakdowns can only be resolved by a specialist.

If there are symptoms of a more serious breakdown, you should contact a warranty workshop.

What to do

Any compressor can be scanned with a tester to identify the causes of failure. An old compressor can be repaired, but it is easier to replace it with a new device.

To avoid breakdowns, you need to avoid power surges by adjusting the optimal power supply.

Refrigerator repair

It is undesirable to start repairs on your own due to the lack of the necessary knowledge base. Let professionals deal with serious problems.

Subscribe to TechnoCouncil on social networks so you don’t miss anything:

Normal, working sounds

The refrigerator constantly or periodically crackles, gurgles and clicks during operation, but at the same time it functions completely normally:

the required temperature inside the chambers;
water does not leak anywhere;
no smell of burnt plastic;
The display (if present) does not show any errors, only operating parameters.

This means that all the sounds that the unit makes are completely natural and should not be a cause for concern.

Why does the new refrigerator crack?

Breakdowns that cause loud noise when the refrigerator operates

Clicking, crackling and other noises are produced by components and mechanisms during operation.

Symptoms of malfunction	Cause of the problem	Repair
The compressor makes noise or hums when the refrigerator is turned on and running.	The motor is worn out or damaged; pistons or piston rings are worn; engine decompression has occurred.	Replacing the motor.
A loud noise is heard when the refrigerator starts and ends its cycle.	The compressor shock absorbers have ceased to perform their function.	Adjusting shock absorbers.
The refrigerator makes a grinding noise	The fan is not working properly; Ice froze on the blades.	Defrosting chambers within 12 hours. Checking the tightness of the compartments. Evaporator heater repair. Replacing the fan.

The technician will tell you the exact cause of the breakdown after diagnosis. He will calculate the cost of repairs and tell you the price of spare parts.

In addition to noise, the refrigerator may make other extraneous sounds: creaking, gurgling, clicking, etc. For a number of models, quiet sounds are associated with the normal operation of the cooling system: gurgling and crackling appear when the refrigerant moves through the pipes, compression or expansion of individual components of the system.

If the Hotpoint Ariston refrigerator was working quietly, but recently started making strange sounds: call a technician to check the device.

Where to start looking for the cause?

If you notice that the refrigerator clicks when operating, first check how it generally works. There are two options here:

Apart from strange sounds, the equipment does not show any symptoms of failure. In both chambers - the refrigerator and the freezer - the temperature is normal. In this case, there is no need to worry too much - most likely, the clicks are part of the normal sound of the unit.
The refrigerator clicks but does not work. It either does not start at all, or it turns on, hums, but does not freeze (the temperature in the chambers is increased). Other symptoms are also possible. This already indicates the presence of a serious breakdown.

Let's take a closer look at the specific causes of clicking sounds.

When clicks are not a problem

Normally, the refrigerator may click in the following cases:

After the compressor is turned off. When the chambers are cooled to the desired temperature, the motor turns off and the refrigerator stops humming. And during “rest” the unit periodically clicks, crackles, and taps. These sounds are produced by plastic and metal parts that contract and expand with temperature changes. For example, this is how a freezer drawer clicks when you take it out and put it in a warm kitchen. All this is normal and will not harm the refrigerator - temperature deformations of the materials are taken into account in its design.
When turning the motor on and off. At this moment the thermostat clicks. Depending on the model and brand of your refrigerator, it may sound louder or quieter.

The following is very important here: sound should accompany the operation of the unit from the very beginning, from the day of purchase. Then the clicks are considered not a breakdown, but a feature of the model. A malfunction is possible in the following cases:

Previously, the refrigerator worked silently, but then suddenly it started clicking.
Before, the clicks were quiet, but now the unit clicks very loudly and loudly.

With such unexpected changes in the operation of the equipment, you need to contact a specialist .

Malfunctions that cause the refrigerator to click

But the signs listed below indicate serious problems. They must be eliminated in order for the refrigerator to continue to function normally.

Symptoms	Possible problem	How to fix the problem
The refrigerator clicks periodically, but the motor does not start. There is no light in the cell.	The start protection relay is broken.	Replace the relay ( call a technician ). Cost from 750 rubles.
Periodic clicking sounds are heard. The engine does not turn on, but the light in the refrigerator is on.	Thermostat is faulty. It must transmit a command to start the motor when the temperature in the chamber becomes higher than the set one. If there is a malfunction, the thermostat cannot do this. It often happens that the unit clicks normally, but after a breakdown the clicks immediately become much louder.	Replace the thermostat ( call a specialist ). Replacement price is from 850 rubles.
The refrigerator clicks, then the engine starts. It hums, but does not work and soon turns off with a characteristic loud click (this is how the start-up relay clicks). In other cases, the compressor just tries to start and immediately stops.	The motor-compressor is broken. It tries to work, but overheats. Immediately the start-up relay is activated: there is a click and the motor is knocked out. Then there is silence in the refrigerator until the next startup attempt.	Replace the motor-compressor (you need to call a specialist ). Price - from 820 rubles.
The refrigerator is working normally (the temperature in the chambers corresponds to the set temperature, the light turns on). The compressor clicks before switching off.	Loose compressor mounts. This happens due to improper installation of the unit and the vibrations caused by it. The motor stays in place less easily. Stopping operation, it comes into contact with the body of the refrigerator. At the same time, one loud click is heard.	First, you should change the position of the refrigerator, slightly changing its tilt relative to the vertical. It is quite possible to do this yourself. If the clicking does not stop, call a technician to adjust the springs holding the compressor. You should not postpone the adjustment, as over time the situation will only worsen and the motor may fail. Price from 600 rub.
When the compressor is turned off, several loud clicks with short pauses are heard. With the last of them, the motor starts, and then the refrigerator operates normally. The temperature and lighting in the cells are also normal.	Low voltage in the network. The start-up relay tries to start the engine, but there is not enough current to do so. The relay will continue to try until the motor starts running. After the compressor completes its cycle and turns off, the refrigerator may click again, or it may start without problems the first time.	Install a stabilizer to provide the refrigerator with normal voltage. Otherwise, during the next surge, any component may break - from the relay to the compressor.

You can fix some problems yourself. But it’s better not to undertake complex repairs and replacement of expensive spare parts - this work is for professionals. Moreover, you can easily get rid of any breakdowns by calling a good refrigerator repairman to your home. Call Formula Cold or leave a request directly on the website. We will quickly repair your refrigerator - it will work again as quietly and diligently as in the first days after purchase.

When a cracking sound indicates a breakdown

A household refrigerator creaks and clicks when the motor is running. There is often a rattling noise, which is not a problem. Sometimes noise signals a malfunction of the device. To understand the situation, it is necessary to study the possible causes of noise.

A cracking noise when starting a compressor often indicates a breakdown:

The engine tries to start several times, hums and runs for a couple of seconds, then stops - most often it needs to be replaced.
When the unit starts, the start relay clicks, but the light inside the chamber does not light up, and the refrigerator does not start - the reason lies in the relay failure.
If there is a rattling sound when the engine is turned off, the motor mountings must be checked; most often they will need to be tightened so that the compressor does not vibrate. In this situation, you can try to adjust the inclination and height of the legs of the household appliance.
Clicks are heard periodically, there is light in the chamber, but the unit does not cool - this indicates a malfunction of the thermostat: the engine tries to turn on, but no signals are received from the thermostat, which needs to be replaced.
Clicks that are heard several times in a row with pauses between them indicate an insufficient voltage level in the network or breakdowns in electrical parts and wiring - the plug, contacts and network must be checked. It is worth purchasing a current stabilizer if the situation does not improve.

View » How to repair a refrigerator with your own hands: frequent breakdowns and how to fix them

A clicking sound that sounds more like a loud murmur indicates that the cooling system needs to be checked. The pipes could be clogged, or there might be a freon leak.

What kind of malfunctions can there be?

A relay is a design that partially controls the operation of the unit and is the first to start in the power circuit. If there is no light in the on mode and unpleasant sounds are made, then an urgent replacement of the start-up relay is necessary.

A common cause of refrigerator clicking is a loose motor mount. Occurs from stretching of belts. This problem appears due to improper care (incomplete defrosting, the ice does not melt completely and the device is connected to the network again), and premature overload of the belts occurs from insufficient rest of the unit, due to infrequent defrosting.

Refrigerator motor

When the motor is in rest mode, it comes into contact with the inner wall of the unit, making clicking noises at a rapid pace. You can correct the situation with your own hands by slightly tilting the refrigerator so that the motor does not come into contact with the body. If the clicks remain, you need to adjust the location of the spring, which is located inside the device.

If, in the event of a compressor breakdown, clicks are heard, the unit does not freeze at all, and the light does not light up, this indicates a serious malfunction. The function of the compressor is to compress air for further transmission to another section of the unit.

A thermostat is a device that transmits a signal about temperature changes to the control unit, which subsequently responds to the engine by turning it off or igniting it. If it breaks, you need to replace the thermostat with a new device; in this case, the clicks will disappear.

What to do in this case

What can constantly click in a running refrigerator? Problems in the operation of freezing equipment can be divided into mechanical (damage to gaskets, housing, depressurization of cooling tubes) and electrical (breakage of the motor, power relay, fan).

In the first case, you can try to fix the problem yourself. If the refrigerator begins to make noise or crackle when turned on, this is most likely an electrical type of failure. It is impossible to fix the problem on your own. In this case, you will need the help of a qualified technician.

A quick guide to diagnosing household appliances

A sequence of simple steps will help you determine the cause of extraneous sounds.

Contacting a qualified specialist will help you successfully resolve the issue (the technician will inspect the equipment, identify the problem and help eliminate the malfunction).
In some refrigerator models, a cracking sound occurs due to the contact of the evaporator tubes (the sound occurs due to a temperature jump between the tubes and the metal sheet to which they are attached. In this case, this is normal and does not relate to a malfunction).
Take a photo of the power wire where it exits the case; perhaps sending a photo to the service center will help remotely determine the source of the crackling sound.
Sometimes the refrigerator may crack due to the insulation or the body of the equipment. If the click is very loud, it is better to send it to service.

Advice! The earlier a problem is identified, the easier it is to fix it. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out maintenance every two years.

Additional Tips

By following some recommendations, you can avoid the appearance of extraneous noise from the refrigerator. First of all, it must be installed correctly. To prevent the equipment from tilting, it must be installed on a flat surface. If the floor is uneven, you can level the horizontal or vertical position of the device by adjusting the legs.

The refrigerator should not be moved very close to the wall; the radiator should not come into contact with its surface. It is necessary to ensure air flow to the condenser.

If the transport bolts were not removed during transportation of the structure, they must be removed. They can also cause rattling noise. By removing them, the refrigerator will become much quieter.

It is not advisable to slam the door too hard to avoid damaging the rubber seal. A loose fit can cause the door to crack. It is also not allowed to place the device near a heat source.

It is not always clear why the refrigerator starts to crack. If the equipment freezes the camera properly and does not notify you of an error on the control panel, then there is no need to worry. If the noise intensifies and additional factors appear that indicate a malfunction, you need to diagnose and fix the problem.

Replacing the plug

If you find that the cracking noise is coming from the plug, you should replace it with a new one. Do not attempt to repair this part by wrapping it with electrical tape, otherwise you will create a potential fire or electrical hazard in your home. In refrigerators of all brands - Indesit, Atlant, Ariston, Samsung and others - the plug is replaced depending on the type of plug:

If the plug is disassembled, the broken or broken wire can be cut off, cleaned and installed inside the plug.

Important! The wire can only be mounted inside!

If is not removable, go get a new one. Do not try to cut the cord where it is damaged or twist it - for your safety, avoid such actions.

Choosing the right plug

Decide which plug you need - with or without grounding. The refrigerator requires plugs with a grounding pin. But, if you live in an old apartment building where the wiring does not have a grounding conductor, do not waste your money.