My refrigerator started making a loud buzzing or humming noise that it never made before. It runs constantly and the noise is getting worse.
A loud buzzing from a refrigerator is usually the compressor, condenser fan, or evaporator fan working harder than normal. First, pull the fridge away from the wall and clean the condenser coils underneath or on the back with a vacuum or brush. Dirty coils force the compressor to work overtime, causing loud buzzing. If the noise is coming from inside the freezer, the evaporator fan motor bearings may be failing — you will hear the noise get louder when you open the freezer door. A replacement fan motor costs 15 to 40 dollars. If the buzzing comes from the bottom rear, the condenser fan may be hitting something or its motor is failing. Check for debris around the fan. If the compressor itself is buzzing loudly and the fridge is not cooling properly, the compressor may be failing. Compressor replacement costs 400 to 800 dollars — at that point, a new fridge may be more economical if yours is over 8 years old.
