Why is Your Fridge Making Humming Noises?

Quiet humming or buzzing noises coming from your refrigerator are completely normal. Refrigerator compressors normally produce a low humming noise during various portions of the day, since they're essentially the refrigerator's motor. The evaporator also produces noise, although it's usually not as loud as the compressor is. However, if there is a louder-than-usual hum coming from your refrigerator, it may be a sign of frost buildup around the evaporator, or an aging and failing compressor. Then, if you are hearing extremely loud humming noises, there may be an issue with the condenser or evaporator fan that we will break down for you how to fix below, along with step-by-step video guides!

Refrigerator Noise Meanings

Occasional, low noises coming from your refrigerator are completely normal, and nothing to be concerned about – but there are definitely some noises that you will want to take more seriously than others. Here is a list of most refrigerator noises you'll hear, and what they mean:

• Quiet Hum/Buzz: A low, quiet or subtle hum/buzz is a normal occurrence for most refrigerator models. This hum may be accompanied by a winding noise when the compressor turns on.
• Loud Hum/Buzz: A louder hum or buzz may be an indication that the compressor is being overworked, meaning it could be dirty and needs cleaning, or if there is something warm left in the refrigerator and now the motor has to overcompensate to keep the fridge cool. It may also be the ice maker trying to produce ice, but if you don't have a water line connected to your fridge, ensure this is turned off.
• Very Loud Hum: If your refrigerator is consistently producing a loud hum or buzz noise from its bottom and/or rear side, it means the compressor is likely failing and in need of service or replacement. A hum of this level will usually only come from an older refrigerator model, since most fridge models last between 15-20 years.

How to Fix a Refrigerator Evaporator Fan to Solve Loud Humming Noises

If the evaporator fan in your refrigerator is blocked by ice, if its airway is blocked by food items, or if its motor is bad and needs replacing, your refrigerator will begin to hum or buzz loudly. Luckily, the evaporator can be fixed, and doing so is a repair that anyone can do!

Remove Food Items from Evaporator Fan

Depending on your refrigerator model, food items can block and clog the airway of the evaporator fan, preventing it from properly distributing cool air within the cabinet of the refrigerator and causing both the compressor and evaporator to work harder and hum or buzz distinctly loud. Simply moving food out of the way of the fan and clearing off any built-up frost should fix the humming and noise issue.

Thaw and Remove Ice from Evaporator Fan

Evaporator fans help maintain the internal temperature in your refrigerator. They pull warm air from the appliance through the evaporator coils to cool it. Depending on the model of refrigerator, the evaporator fan motor may also be used to circulate that cooled air. However, if the defrost system malfunctions or if any parts within it don't work properly, the fan mechanism will experience frost buildup and produce a humming or buzzing noise. If your refrigerator is experiencing defrost issues and significant frost buildup, we have a general how-to guide on how to fix it!

1. Locate the evaporator fan. The evaporator fan is normally located in the freezer cabinet or compartment.
2. Remove any food items or shelves blocking the fan.
3. Unthread and remove any panels covering the fan.
4. Once you gain access to the fan, use a hair dryer or similar tool to thaw any built-up ice or frost around the fan.
5. Use a towel to soak up and remove any moisture from the fan area.
6. Once all ice or frost is melted, ensure the fan moves freely before reinstalling the cover panel.
7. If the fan does not move freely, you will likely need to replace the evaporator fan motor.

How to Replace an Evaporator Fan Motor

If the evaporator fan blade does not move freely within the evaporator mechanism, it means that the motor is bad or broken and needs replacing in order to function properly. Fortunately, we have a huge inventory of OEM refrigerator evaporator fan motors, and the guide you need to properly replace it:

1. Locate your refrigerator's evaporator fan and gain access to it by removing any food items or shelves in front of it and unthreading any cover panels.
2. Disconnect any wire harnesses to the fan motor and unthread its housing to remove it.
3. Remove the fan's blade and and unthread the motor from its housing.
4. Install the new motor and ensure it's secure within its housing.
5. Seat and install the housing within the appropriate compartment.
6. Connect the necessary wire harnesses and screws.
7. Reconnect any cover panels and install previously removed shelves and their food items.

Below is a general video guide showing how to replace a refrigerator evaporator fan motor.

How to Fix the Defrost System to Solve Frost Buildup

The defrost system within your refrigerator, made up of the defrost timer, thermostat, and heater, is designed to melt ice and frost buildup within the cooling systems of the fridge. This is done to ensure your food items are kept cold at all times, without the risk of frost or ice building up and causing issues. If either of these parts fails or stops working properly, ice and frost will buildup and the evaporator fan will eventually begin making a humming or buzzing noise.

How to Replace a Defrost Thermostat to Fix Refrigerator Frost Buildup

For this repair, you will need a screwdriver, and you may require a wire stripper and crimper, heat-shrinking tubes, a heat gun, and a new defrost thermostat which you can find in our wide range of OEM refrigerator thermostats.

1. Disconnect your fridge from its wall outlet.
2. Locate the evaporator fan and remove any shelves and food items to access it.
3. Unthread any cover panels to the evaporator.
4. Locate the thermostat within the evaporator assembly.
5. If the thermostat has an easy-access plug, unplug it and and plug in the new thermostat and skip to step . If not, cut the old wire and remove it.
6. Strip a small part of the wire from the wiring harness from the fridge and from the new thermostat.
7. Attach the new wire leads together and crimp them, and apply heat shrink tubing over each connected wire.
8. With all wires connected properly, secure them as they were and resecure the evaporator cover.
9. Plug your refrigerator back in and leave it to see whether the frost returns.

Below is a general video guide on how to replace the defrost thermostat.

How to Replace a Defrost Heater to Fix Refrigerator Frost Buildup

If you've replaced the defrost thermostat and frost is continuing to buildup, it's likely an issue with the defrost heater, which is supposed to activate and melt any and all ice or frost. Replacing this part is not difficult, and likely will only require a screwdriver and a new defrost heater which you can find in our selection of OEM refrigerator elements and burners.

1. Disconnect your refrigerator from its wall outlet.
2. Locate the defrost evaporator coil assembly in your refrigerator. This is normally located in the freezer compartment. You may need to empty the compartment to access the evaporator assembly.
3. Unthread and remove the cover panel of the evaporator assembly.
4. Depending on your model, the visual appearance and complexity of your defrost heater may differ. However, you simply need to disconnect any wire harnesses connected between the heater and the evaporator assembly.
5. Unthread or simply pull the heater carefully out of the evaporator assembly to remove it.
6. Take the new heater and install it by securing it onto the evaporator assembly.
7. Connect any and all necessary wires to the new heater.
8. Ensure everything is secured properly before reinstalling the cover panel.
9. Reconnect the refrigerator to power and monitor it to check for frost or ice buildup.

Below is a general video guide for how to replace a refrigerator defrost heater.

How to Replace a Defrost Timer to Fix Refrigerator Frost Buildup

If you've replaced your refrigerator's defrost thermostat and heater, and you are still finding frost buildup around the evaporator fan causing it to hum, the defrost timer is likely bad and not running for as long as necessary. For this repair, you will need a screwdriver and a new defrost timer, which you can conveniently find in our inventory of OEM refrigerator timers!

1. Disconnect your refrigerator from its wall outlet.
2. Locate the defrost timer. It is usually located in the ceiling of the fridge's interior, although if it's elsewhere you may need your user manual for assistance.
3. Use your screwdriver to remove the defrost timer's housing to access it.
4. Remove the wire harness of the old timer and unthread it to remove it completely.
5. (Optional) You can test the timer using a multimeter, to check for continuity. A beep or a visual indication of continuity means it is still working, whereas no response means it is bad and needs replacement.
6. Install the new defrost timer by connecting any wire harnesses and securing it within the housing.
7. Reassemble the defrost timer housing and connect the fridge to the wall outlet.
8. Monitor your fridge and freezer for any more frost buildup.

Below is a general video guide on how to replace the defrost timer.

What to Do If Your Refrigerator Continues to Hum Loudly

If you've replaced the evaporator fan motor, defrost timer, thermostat, and heater, and your refrigerator is continuing to produce loud or abnormal humming or buzzing noises, it is likely an issue with its compressor. Compressor repairs are quite costly and difficult to do, even for repair-savvy individuals, because of the hazardous and toxic materials, like refrigerant, used within refrigerators – this is why we recommend compressor repairs be left to qualified repair technicians.

For all other refrigerator or non-refrigerator-related repair and home improvement blog articles, stay tuned to our PartSelect blog! And for the appliances and equipment in your home that need repairing, we have you covered with OEM parts at PartSelect.com!