Samsung Fridge Noises Stops When Door Opens? (Here's Why)

Ryan Womeldorf
by Ryan Womeldorf
.Samsung refrigerators are great, but they are prone to problems. For example, ice can build up around the fan and it will stop making noise when it’s open. Follow along as we explore the simple explanation for a Samsung fridge that gets quiet when you open the door.

Samsung refrigerators are among the best on the market in terms of price, efficiency, and availability. There is no such thing as a silent refrigerator, and even Samsung refrigerators are prone to noises that can sometimes be confusing. So, what does it mean when your Samsung refrigerator noise stops when you open the door?

The fan stops running and the noise stops when you open a Samsung refrigerator’s door. Generally, ice around the fan motor can also make the fan stop moving and making noise, but that happens automatically when you open the door. Samsung refrigerators can stop making noise and can malfunction if the legs aren’t on level ground.

Refrigerators make several sounds that are all normal from buzzing and humming to beeping or rattling. Each sound has a different explanation, but they rarely indicate that something is wrong with the refrigerator. Follow along as we explore why the sound stops when you open your Samsung refrigerator’s door.

Related Content: Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling? | How To Quiet A Noisy Refrigerator Compressor | Refrigerators Brands To Avoid | How Long Should A Refrigerator Last?

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Refrigerator Noise Stops When Door Open

Samsung refrigerators produce a mild humming sound while they run. However, you may notice that your Samsung refrigerator stops humming when you open the door. That is completely normal and doesn’t indicate that anything is wrong with the refrigerator.

Every Samsung refrigerator has a fan that stops running when you open the door. The humming sound will resume when you close the refrigerator again. The ice around the fan can cause the humming sound to stop when the doors are shut, but that is rare.

A rattling sound that accompanies the humming can indicate that the compressor is turning off. Neither sounds are a problem, and it is a good thing if the refrigerator noise stops when you open the door. Sometimes, however, a Samsung refrigerator can malfunction if it isn’t on level ground and may continue to hum when the door is open.

Why Is My Samsung Refrigerator Making a Humming Noise?

A mild humming noise is normal, but if it is loud and persistent it could be because the fan motor is dirty or frozen. You can clean the fan or clear ice away from it to see if the humming noise settles down. However, a loud and constant humming sound may indicate that the refrigerator or fan is old and you may need to replace it.

It costs an average of $450 to replace the condenser fan for a refrigerator. However, it may not be worth the cost to replace the fan if your refrigerator is over 10 years old because it may only have a few years left. The average refrigerator lasts for 15 years, but it can fail before then so repairs aren’t always worth the cost.

It isn’t always necessary to replace the condenser fan, and the humming noise may be normal for your refrigerator. Hire a professional to service your refrigerator and get their opinion about whether or not the humming noise is normal. Most refrigerators produce noise throughout the day or even constantly, and it could be that you just recently noticed it.

How To Manually Defrost Fan

It is possible to perform a manual defrost on your Samsung refrigerator’s fan. Before performing a manual defrost, it is essential to note that you should never use a hairdryer or other heat source. Doing so can potentially damage the refrigerator, leaving you with a far larger and more expensive issue than you started with.

  • Empty the fridge. Start by taking out any perishable food items and emptying any ice buckets within the fridge. It could take some time to implement the defrost and you don’t want food going bad in the meantime.
  • Lay down towels. Put down a layer of towels underneath the fridge. Make sure that you keep some handy for any potential leaks that may occur. Clean up as you go and it will be far easier to keep things from getting out of hand.
  • Unplug the fridge. Remove the plug from the wall to cut off the power to the fridge. Then, prop the doors open so that you can work without restriction.
  • Swap out towels. The fridge will need to defrost naturally. As it does, water will get out, soaking into the towels. Remember those extra towels? They will come in handy here to swap out so that the towels on the floor don’t become sopping wet. Keep replacing the towels until they stop becoming wet or until at least 24 hours have passed.
  • Turn the fridge back on. Close the doors and turn the fridge back on. Give it a few minutes and wait for the fan to start working properly again.

Refrigerator Noises

Whether it be beeping, squeaking, buzzing, humming, or rattling, refrigerators make many noises. Some of these noises are normal, but they can sometimes indicate that something is wrong with your fridge. Let’s take a look at the most common refrigerator noises, find out what they mean, and see if you should be concerned.

Beeping

Samsung refrigerators can beep if the door is open for too long, isn’t shut completely, or if the wire harness isn’t connected. The wire harness helps keep your doors in place, and improper placement can make your Samsung refrigerator beep. Most commonly, however, a refrigerator will beep if there is a problem with the door seal or it isn’t shut all the way.

Inspect the door seals on your Samsung refrigerator and repair or replace them if they are damaged. A poor seal can make your door pop back open at random after you’ve shut it. Samsung refrigerators can also beep if you set the temperature too high, and you’ll need to lower it.

This feature exists so that you don’t spoil your food, and it’s one of many safety features that Samsung refrigerators have. The beeping may occur after a power outage as your refrigerator tries to reach the proper temperature again. Pay attention to the sound and check your food to make sure that it doesn’t spoil if the beeping sound continues.

Rattling

A rattling sound can be offputting at first, but it generally means that the compressor shuts off. This is a good thing and means that the compressor and your refrigerator are working as intended. You should only worry if the rattling sound is constant and occurs at random.

You can replace your refrigerator for an average of $300, but they can cost as much as $600. It is only worth it to replace a compressor if it fails and rattles all the time. However, you should never replace a compressor if your refrigerator is close to 15 years old because it won’t last much longer.

Ignore the rattling sound unless your compressor fails or you notice other problems with the fridge. It is rare for a compressor to go bad unless your refrigerator is old and outdated, but it is possible.

Buzzing

Buzzing sounds are among the most common noises that a Samsung refrigerator can produce. It can sound unpleasant, and the buzzing sound generally occurs when the fridge produces ice. You can tell that the ice maker is the source if the refrigerator ceases to buzz when the ice cycle is over.

While it is less common, a buzzing sound can also come from your compressor when it runs. Some refrigerator compressors sound similar to a motor and can either rattle or buzz while they run. Inspect your ice maker to rule it out before you address the compressor.

Squeaking

Squeaking sounds are unpleasant no matter where they come from, but it’s especially annoying when your fridge squeaks. A squeaking refrigerator can indicate that the door hinges are rusty or that the door isn’t properly sealed. Apply DW-40 to the door hinges and inspect your doors to make sure that they are properly installed.

You may need to remove and reinstall your refrigerator’s doors so that they stop squeaking. Look at your refrigerator’s legs to make sure that they are level if the squeaking sound persists. Uneven legs can squeak as you open and close the fridge or even as you walk around the kitchen.

Pull the refrigerator out and place a mat or pad under it so that the legs are level. Prop up whichever legs are uneven or move the refrigerator to an area that is level.


Related Questions

Why is my refrigerator gurgling?

A refrigerator can produce a gurgling sound when the frost melts and the water comes through the drain hole. Frost is often present in refrigerators and it melts and reforms throughout the day. It can melt when you adjust the temperature or move things around in the fridge, and this causes water to rush and gurgle.

Why does my fridge keep shaking?

A refrigerator can continually shake when the compressor shuts off. You will often hear your refrigerator rattle or hum as it shakes because gases compress within the lines. The gas within refrigerator lines only expands when the compressor cools off, and that can cause it to shake and make noises.

Summing It Up

Samsung refrigerators stop making noise when you open the fridge because the fan shuts off. The fan cuts off automatically when you open the door or if the door isn’t sealed all the way. You won’t hear the fan but you will hear a beeping sound if you don’t close the doors completely.

The sound can stop when the refrigerator is closed if the fan motors are frozen or ice is blocking the blades. Remove the ice manually or allow it to melt and drain away so that your fan works again. The noise that your Samsung makes is normal and there is nothing wrong if it stops when you open the doors.

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Ryan Womeldorf
Ryan Womeldorf

Ryan Womeldorf has more than a decade of experience writing. He loves to blog about construction, plumbing, and other home topics. Ryan also loves hockey and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan.

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