Fridge Making Clicking Noise? 6 Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Your fridge is the unsung hero of your home, working tirelessly to keep your food safe and cool. But what happens when it’s not so “unsung” and starts making unusual noises? It may be a sign that your refrigerator is dying, but not always. If your fridge is making clicking noises, use this guide to diagnose and fix the underlying problem to keep your fridge functioning and restore that peace and quiet.

1. Normal Functionality

First things first: refrigerators click during normal functionality. Numerous switches turn on and off, and evaporator coils can make ticking noises when the defrost cycle begins and refrigerant moves through the coils. Normal clicking will be soft and shouldn’t be an interruption, and it will be intermittent.

The Solution

As you might guess, there’s no solution needed here. You can call in a repair tech to confirm that there’s no underlying issue, but beyond that, you’re in the clear.

2. Ice Maker Not Connected to Water Supply

If you’ve intentionally left your ice maker disconnected but accidentally turned the ice maker on, it will click when it calls for water and doesn’t receive it. If you have your ice maker connected, it may click if any of the components fail and your ice maker can’t make ice.

The Solution

If your ice maker is disconnected, simply turn it off to stop the clicking. You can do this by raising or lowering the metal arm that controls the component. If your ice maker is on, some clicking is normal, but you’ll need to call a professional to replace the ice maker if the clicking is coupled with poor functionality or leaks.

3. Faulty Start Relay

The start relay in your fridge is responsible for delivering and cutting power to your compressor. It will automatically stop power to your compressor if it’s overloaded. A faulty start relay will click repeatedly if the fridge is calling for cooling but it’s wrongly registering that the compressor is overloaded. You’ll hear clicking each time before the compressor comes on if this is the issue, or you may notice that your fridge just doesn’t keep things cool.

The Solution

The best option is to replace the switch that’s responsible for delivering power to the compressor. This is an electrical component, so hiring a pro is the best option.

4. Evaporator Fan Issues

If you hear light, quick clicking, you could have an issue with your evaporator fan. It could be failing or have ice build-up that’s causing the noise.

The Solution

You can either replace the evaporator fan yourself or hire a professional to replace it for you. You should also clean the evaporator coils while you’re at it, as this will prevent freezing going forward.

5. Defrost Timer Switch

The defrost timer switch is one of several switches that can click if there’s an issue as it’s calling for the defrost cycle. You’ll hear intermittent clicking only one to two times a day if this is your underlying issue, and you may notice frost building up in your fridge or freezer as a result of a problem.

The Solution

You’ll need to hire a professional to replace the electrical switch for you.

6. Failing Compressor

The most severe issue that could be the culprit of your fridge making clicking noises is a failing compressor. The compressor itself can click if there’s damage to the internal components, or it can cause the start relay to click as it tries to get the bad compressor to turn on.

The Solution

Hiring a professional to replace the compressor is the best option if your fridge is newer, but a full replacement is often a better idea in the long run if your fridge is nearing the end of its life anyway.

When to Call a Pro

If you just need to shut off a disconnected ice maker that’s clicking or replace an easily accessible fan, it’s possible to DIY the work. Beyond that, though, it’s best to call a pro.

Most refrigerator parts include electrical components that can be dangerous to repair or replace, especially since they’re in close proximity to water from ice maker supply lines and defrosting. As such, it’s always best to call a local fridge repair company to get the work done safely and properly.