Why is my Samsung fridge making a loud humming noise?

All refrigerators make a low humming noise when they are operating. It means that your fridge is functioning the way it should.

However, if the humming becomes louder, you should be concerned. Address the issue early on to prevent it from getting serious.

We’ll help you identify the underlying cause of your fridge’s loud humming. Then, we’ll show you how to troubleshoot it. 

Not to worry, the solutions mostly involve a quick cleanup, which can be accomplished in 20 minutes or less.

Why is my fridge making a constant humming noise?

All refrigerators make a constant humming noise when they are operating. What you’re hearing is the sound of the compressor, which runs 60 to 80 percent of the time.

Your fridge hums when the compressor is running and stops once it reaches a certain temperature.

The low humming noise is a result of your fridge’s normal operations. This shouldn’t be a cause for concern unless it becomes louder than usual.

Why is my Samsung fridge making a loud humming noise?

If your Samsung fridge is making a loud humming noise instead of its usual gentle hum, it’s most likely because of a dirty compressor. Vacuuming the dirt away from the coils should stop the noise.

However, if that doesn’t work, check the fan motor and air vents. Clear obstructions if there are any.

How do I stop my Samsung refrigerator from humming?

You can’t stop the gentle humming of your refrigerator as it is a natural result of its operations. However, unusually loud humming noises will stop once you clear the coils, fan motors, and vents of any obstructions.

Below, we’ve listed the most common causes of your fridge’s loud humming. We also provide step-by-step instructions to help you fix your problem.

Causes	Solution
The compressor is dirty.	Use a soft-bristle brush to remove the dust from the coils and vacuum all the excess dirt away. Get a damp towel and wipe the grime off the coils. Make sure the coils are fully dry before you plug the fridge back in.
The fridge isn’t level.	Put a carpenter’s level (spirit’s level) on top of your fridge. It should be on the main compartment – not on the doors. Use it to determine if your fridge is level from side to side and front to back. Crouch down to access the leveling legs underneath your fridge. Then, use a flathead screwdriver to adjust the height of your unit. Rotate the leg to the left to raise the fridge or to the right to lower it. Check if your fridge is level, and make the necessary adjustments.
The air vents are blocked.	Arrange your fridge’s contents properly by storing your food and beverages on the right shelves and bins. Don’t store large items right in front of the vents to promote good airflow.
The fan motors are jammed.	Unplug your fridge. Use a Phillips screwdriver to unmount the back panel.  Take a soft-bristle brush and remove any dirt buildup on your fan motors. Vacuum all the excess dirt on the motor and around it. Reinstall the back panel before plugging your fridge back in.
The fan is malfunctioning.	Get a replacement for your faulty Samsung condenser fan motor. Unplug your fridge and unmount the back panel. Slightly tilt it back and lift it to remove it. Remove the electrical plug and the screws around the fan motor. Carefully pull the old fan motor out of your fridge and install the new one. Tuck the refrigerant line inside its designated foam slot. Then, push the fan motor back and lock it into place. Reinstall the Phillips screws to secure the fan motor, and reconnect the electrical plug. Reattach the back panel with all its screws.

The compressor is dirty.

A compressor is the heart of every refrigerator. It moves the refrigerant throughout the system and pushes hot compressed air out of the metal coils at the back of your fridge.

Whenever your compressor is running, it produces a gentle humming or buzzing sound. If it is on the verge of malfunctioning, you’ll hear loud noises, along with other issues.

Here are a few signs to watch out for:

• The compressor turns on and off frequently.
• The compressor is overheating.
• Your refrigerator isn’t cooling.
• You notice a sudden spike in the power bill.

You can keep your compressor in tip-top shape by cleaning the coils at the back of your fridge regularly. It should take 15 minutes or less.

We’ll show you how to do it.

What you’ll need:

• Soft-bristle brush
• Towel
• Vacuum cleaner

Solution: To clean your fridge’s compressor compartment, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug your refrigerator.

• Step 2: Pull out your fridge to access the back of your unit.
• Step 3: Use a soft-bristled brush to remove the dust.
• Step 4: Vacuum all the excess dust and dirt.
• Step 5: Wipe the coils with a damp towel. Don’t use too much water and avoid getting the rest of your fridge components wet.
• Step 6: Let your fridge fully dry before plugging it back in.

Quick Note: We recommend cleaning your coils every six months. However, if you notice issues with your fridge’s performance and efficiency, you should clean your Samsung fridge more often.

The fridge isn’t level.

If your fridge isn’t level, it can create all sorts of problems for your unit, including water leakages and cooling issues. It can also make your fridge produce unusually loud humming noises.

What you’ll need:

• Carpenter’s level (spirit’s level)
• Flathead screwdriver

Solution: To level your fridge, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Put a carpenter’s level (spirit’s level) on top of your Samsung fridge. 
• Step 2: Crouch down to access the leveling legs underneath your fridge. If your unit has leg covers, remove them to access the legs.

• Step 3: Insert a flathead screwdriver into a groove in the leveling leg. Rotate it to the left to raise the height of your fridge or to the right to lower it.
• Step 4: Check if your fridge is level from front to back and side to side using the carpenter’s level (spirit’s level). Make the necessary adjustments until your fridge is level.

The air vents are blocked.

Your Samsung refrigerator needs adequate ventilation to function properly. If the air vents are obstructed by large food items, your fridge will work harder to maintain ideal cooling temperatures.

As a result, you’ll hear loud humming noises.

Solution: To promote good airflow, don’t overfill your fridge and avoid blocking the air vents. Instead, organize your fridge properly by storing your food and beverages in their designated compartments.

Here are other tips that can help you promote good airflow:

• Keep your Samsung fridge ⅔ full. In doing so, you can reduce the amount of air your fridge has to cool when you open the doors.
• Remove items that don’t need to be refrigerated, such as citrus fruits, avocados, hot sauces, honey, and potatoes.

The condenser fan is jammed.

The condenser fan, which is located on your fridge’ back panel, keeps the compressor and condenser coils cool. You shouldn’t confuse it with the evaporator fan that is behind a panel on your unit’s inner wall.

If you hear noises from your condenser fan, it most likely needs cleaning. Sometimes, dirt can build up in the fan motor and prevent it from rotating properly.

Dirt buildup increases the load on your fan motor, forcing it to work even harder. The loud humming noise is often a result of an overworked condenser fan.

What you’ll need:

• Soft-bristle brush
• Vacuum cleaner
• Phillips screwdriver

Solution: To clear dirt buildup on your Samsung fridge’s condenser fan motors, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug your fridge and move it to access the back panel.

• Step 2: Use a Phillips screwdriver to unmount the back panel. Tilt it back and carefully lift it to remove it.
• Step 3: Use a soft-bristle brush to remove any visible obstructions on the fan motor. 
• Step 4: Vacuum all the dirt and debris on the fan motor.
• Step 5: Reinstall the back panel and reattach its screws.

The condenser fan is malfunctioning.

If cleaning the coils and fan motor isn’t stopping all the noise, you might be dealing with a faulty component. 

Your condenser fan motor dissipates heat from the coils and the compressor. If it malfunctions, your fridge can’t reach optimal temperatures for food storage.

In other words, the loud humming noises will be the least of your worries. To avoid serious issues from occurring, you must replace the faulty component immediately.

What you’ll need:

• Phillips screwdriver
• New condenser fan motor

Solution: To replace a damaged condenser fan, follow these steps carefully:

• Step 1: Unplug your fridge and move it to access the back panel.
• Step 2: Use a Phillips screwdriver to unmount the back panel.
• Step 3: Slightly tilt the cover back and lift it to remove it.
• Step 4: Push the locking clips on the electrical plug and gently pull to disconnect it.
• Step 5: Remove the screws securing the fan motor to the fridge.
• Step 6: Gently pull the fan motor in your direction and tilt it to the left to free it up. Then, pull it out of your fridge.
• Step 7: Take your new fan motor and insert it horizontally before rotating it upright. Make sure the refrigerant line is tucked inside its designated foam slot.
• Step 8: Push the fan motor back to align the tabs. Then, lock them into place.
• Step 9: Reinstall the Phillips screws to secure the fan motor.
• Step 10: Reconnect the electrical plug.
• Step 11: Reattach the back panel with all its screws.