Fridge Buzzing Stops When Door Open—Is This Ok?

The problem with using an appliance comes with the uncertainty of how it's supposed to function. We all know the feeling. In one situation, you might find that your fridge stops buzzing when you open the door. If you're curious if that's normal, we have the answer!

Although buzzing can happen for various reasons, it is normal for it to stop when you open your refrigerator door. Assuming that everything is running correctly, the buzzing sound you hear stops because of the fans.

The fan helps circulate cold air inside the unit. Once you open the door, they stop spinning.

There are more details to go over. For example, how would you describe the sound coming from the fridge? Does the buzzing sound similar to a shredder? It could indicate there are problems you need to address. If you'd like to see what problems may be lurking, keep reading ahead.

An opened refrigerator, Fridge Buzzing Stops When Door Open - Is This Ok?

What Should A Refrigerator Sound Like?

It might not seem like a big deal, but you could be overlooking some problems depending on the sound your fridge makes. Of course, it's hard to describe a sound over text. So, how will you ever know there's something wrong?

An open refrigerator filled with fresh fruits and vegetables

Luckily, some manufacturers are kind enough to upload examples of the sounds that a refrigerator can make. More specifically, LG has a catalog of normal sounds and is out of the ordinary for your appliance.

From that catalog, we have a few components that could be making a buzzing sound. These commonly relate to the compartment fan inside your refrigerator. As mentioned, this fan helps circulate cold air throughout the entire unit.

It's a component that will be running for most of the day. Once it helps the fridge reach its desired temperature, it will stop running. The other situation where it will stop is when you open the door.

Taking A Closer Listen

The main point of concern is the type of sound your fridge makes. In general, if it's running as it should, there's only a buzzing sound. It should sound like the fans are pushing the air.

However, if the description above doesn't match your situation, what is the other noise you hear? Does it sound like a shredder or mosquito? If that's the case, the fans are most likely hitting something.

When the fans make a shredder or mosquito-like noise, they're probably hitting frost buildup. As LG suggests, you can check if this is the problem by opening the door. If it stops, you can do two things.

You can wait and let the fridge defrost itself automatically. However, if the problem persists, it will need to be manually defrosted.

Other Frequently Heard Buzzing Sounds

A refrigerator motor on the back of the refrigerator

In an appliance as big as a fridge, there are multiple sounds that it can make while it's operating. The evaporator fans are one component that can make a buzzing noise. Another part that makes a similar noise is the compressor.

As mentioned, the fans will run for most of the day. They do that with the compressor. The evaporator fans and compressor work together. Likewise, they'll shut down together most of the time.

However, when you open the refrigerator door, the compressor will continue to run if the temperature inside isn't as desired. So, that continuous buzzing sound you might hear is the compressor continuing to do its job.

The Ice Maker

Man adjusting the cooler level of the refrigerator

Lastly, the third buzzing you might encounter could be coming from the ice maker. An ice maker cycles every 90 minutes until the ice tray is full. But, when there's a problem with the water connection, it will do nothing but make a buzzing sound.

Of course, this situation would be periodic. If you want to get rid of the noise, then you'd have to turn the ice maker off until you fix the water supply issue. From here, there should be no other component making a buzzing noise.

However, that would usually depend on the fridge you own. In that regard, your mileage may vary.

Is It Normal For A Fridge To Stop Humming?

Considering that refrigerators make various sounds, humming is also expected. So, when it stops, you might get the feeling that there's something wrong. Is there any cause for concern when this happens?

Humming is a natural sound that your refrigerator will make throughout the day. When the fridge becomes too quiet, it could indicate a problem with one of the components. More specifically, it would typically be the compressor.

To find out if your compressor has issues, you need to restart it. To do this, you have to unplug your refrigerator and plug it back in. If the fridge isn't running back to normal, you can troubleshoot further or call a professional to check the situation.

How Do You Know When A Refrigerator Is Going Bad?

As you've already guessed, noise is common for a fridge. If it's plugged in and working correctly, it should be making noise. However, as you've also found out, a refrigerator that's too quiet isn't working correctly.

Can the same be correct for the opposite case? Yes! If your refrigerator is too loud, it means there's a component that's overworking itself. Noise isn't the only factor that can indicate that a fridge is going bad.

Are the items inside spoiling quickly? Then, the fridge is probably having a tough time maintaining internal temperature. Several parts could be causing this issue. It could be a faulty gasket, problems with the motor, or maybe the fridge is too old.

Lastly, condensation in the fridge is another sign that indicates it might be time to replace it. While it might not seem like a problem initially, it can quickly promote mold growth. If you have the same issues mentioned above, you'll need to address them as soon as possible.

You can troubleshoot them yourself. Otherwise, it might be better to call a professional to find out what's going on.

What Does A Bad Refrigerator Compressor Sound Like?

When your compressor is going bad, it'll make sure you know it. Generally, noise coming from the compressor is normal. Under perfect conditions, it will make a humming noise seemingly all day long.

However, the noise isn't noticeable unless you focus on it. You'd have to stand near the fridge in complete silence to hear it running. Once it starts becoming too noisy, it'll start making noise to the point that you can hear it almost anywhere.

In addition, it won't be a humming noise entirely. It's going to be a combination of humming and buzzing. In other cases, it will be a knocking or banging sound.

Here's a YouTube video demonstrating what a bad compressor sounds like:

Should I Replace My Compressor Or Refrigerator?

When the fridge makes too much noise, it might be time to consider replacing the whole unit or the compressor itself. What would be the better choice? Well, this can depend.

How comfortable are you with the noise? If it's manageable, you can hold off on replacing the unit. Though, you'd have to keep in mind that the fridge is overworking itself at this point. So, it's most likely using more energy than it should.

Replacing The Compressor

What if you don't want to replace the whole unit? Can you replace the compressor only? Although this is possible, it may not always be worth the hassle.

Replacing the compressor requires professional help. It's not safe to do it yourself. The reason is that it requires you to:

  • Remove the freon
  • Unsolder connections
  • Solder the replacement compressor
  • Recharge the freon

As you can see, it's not something anyone should be messing with without technical skill. If you think you want to replace your fridge's compressor, we recommend calling in a professional, so you don't end up getting hurt or damaging your appliance.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace Refrigerator Compressor?

The biggest Compressor Factory in Asia Bangladesh

If you don't want to replace your entire refrigerator, you'll need to pay for a new compressor. That said, a compressor replacement will usually cost between $100 and $500. Of course, you'll need a technician to do the job, which means additional labor fees.

So, the more accurate rate would be around $250-$650. Again, this all depends on the type of fridge you own and the severity of the problem.

Our Final Words

An opened refrigerator

When you begin to focus on the noises an appliance makes, you might notice sounds that you hadn't before. Some of them are standard, while others could be cause for concern. As we've learned, the buzzing is one noise that we shouldn't have to worry about generally.

We hope you found the information above helpful. Before you go, do you have other fridge concerns? Do you need to replace the lightbulb? If you'd like to know if you can use any kind, check out our post:

Can You Use Any Light Bulb In A Fridge?

Is your fridge vibrating? It could be another source of concerning noise. To find out more, check out our post:

Why Does My Refrigerator Vibrate?

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