A freezer making a humming noise is usually caused by ice buildup hitting a fan, vibrating metal coils, or an overworked compressor. Troubleshooting depends on where the noise is coming from.
Here are some tips you can try:
If it's making a loud humming noise and also isn't cooling like it normally does, unplug it, call a service tech, and move your food to a secondary fridge, if possible. If not, keep the fridge closed to maintain the temperature until your tech arrives. What does a bad or failing refrigerator compressor sound like?
Watch for warning signs like food spoiling prematurely, clicking or buzzing noises, continuous motor running, or excessive frost/condensation. Older units often cost more to repair than replace.
A loud humming noise from the freezer is most commonly caused by an obstructed evaporator fan, a failing fan motor, frost buildup, or ice maker issues.
A replacement fan is affordable and often simple enough to install yourself. Defrost Ice Buildup: Excessive ice around the evaporator fan causes a loud scraping or humming noise. Manually defrost the freezer by unplugging the unit and letting ice melt naturally before restarting.
How to Tell if Your Refrigerator Compressor is Bad
A standard fridge freezer lasts an average of 10 to 15 years. However, longevity varies by style: standalone units typically hit 10–12 years, while built-in or high-end models can stretch to 15–20 years. Complex smart features often reduce overall lifespan due to wear.
Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers, and deli items after 4 hours without power or 2 hours after the temperature rises above 41 °F. At any time, discard spoiled, moldy food and anything that does not look or smell right.
Buzzing and Grinding
If you have strange noises from your refrigerator, it could indicate ice buildup on the evaporator fan, fan blades hitting ice and frost, a malfunctioning defrost system, or dirty condenser coils.
The compressor is likely the cause. The compressor is the motor of the fridge, responsible for keeping it cool by circulating the refrigerant. A compressor always produces a low humming sound—this is normal. However, if the noise gets louder, something may be wrong.
A humming fridge that isn't cooling usually points to a failing compressor, a broken fan, or dirty condenser coils. Unplug the unit for 5 minutes and plug it back in to reset it. If the issue persists, check the following key components.
A humming noise with no ice and a 42°F freezer suggests compressor or start relay issues. First, check the evaporator fan for obstruction and ensure proper airflow. Inspect the start relay on the compressor; a faulty relay can cause the compressor to hum but not run.
A buzzing noise in a Whirlpool freezer is usually caused by the evaporator fan blades hitting an ice buildup, a struggling condenser fan, or the compressor working too hard.
Freezers are almost never completely silent, but a loud, constant noise is usually a sign that something is wrong. Normal, everyday sounds include a low hum from the compressor, gentle air whooshing, and occasional clicking when it cycles on or off.
5 Foods to Avoid Refreezing
Non-profit organisation Love Food, Hate Waste recommends the 2:2:2 rule. Two hours to get them in the fridge. Two days to eat them once they're in there. Or freeze them for up to two months.
To quickly check if your freezer is broken, use the water bottle test: freeze a half-filled bottle of water, then store it upright. If the ice melts and refreezes at the bottom, your freezer is losing power intermittently.
Bottom-freezer refrigerators should be repaired within seven years and considered for replacement after that. Top-freezer refrigerators should be repaired within three years, considered for repair within three to six years, and replaced if older than seven years.
Your refrigerator may make a variety of noises as part of normal operation, but that doesn't mean every sound is typical. If you notice that your refrigerator's usual noises become amplified over time or suddenly become louder, that may be an indicator that a refrigerator component is in need of maintenance or repair.
The compressor, coils and control board are the most expensive repairs. Your fridge's brand, model and size, plus your location, will impact repair costs. If your refrigerator is more than 6 years old and it will cost you more than half its original price to repair it, consider replacing it instead.
When a refrigerator compressor fails, it stops circulating the refrigerant required to absorb and remove heat. Consequently, the appliance loses its ability to cool. The internal temperature will rise, causing food to spoil rapidly, and you will likely hear strange clicking or humming noises from the back of the unit.
Whether replacing a refrigerator compressor is worth it depends mostly on the age of your fridge, your warranty status, and the replacement cost.