Fridge freezer making a loud buzzing or humming noise (Samsung & Electrolux)
✅ Safe to check yourself
This is a common, low-risk check most people can do safely. Always unplug the appliance (or isolate power) before touching internal parts.
Quick TipTake a photo of the appliance's model/serial number sticker now — you'll want it if this does end up needing a part or an engineer.
Fridge freezers make some background noise normally (the compressor cycling on and off, gentle humming) — but a new, louder buzz or persistent rattle is usually worth investigating, and often has a simple cause.
What to check first
- Check the appliance is standing level — an unlevel fridge freezer can transmit compressor vibration into the floor or nearby cupboards, sounding much louder than the compressor itself actually is. Most have adjustable front feet for this.
- Check nothing is touching the back of the appliance — pipework or the compressor casing vibrating against a wall or nearby cabinet is a very common and easily fixed cause of a buzz.
- Check items inside aren’t rattling against shelves or against each other from the vibration — bottles on a door shelf are a classic culprit.
- Listen for whether the noise is constant or only during the compressor’s “on” cycles (it’ll periodically stop and start) — a noise that’s only present when it’s cycling and disappears in between is more likely to be normal compressor operation than a fault.
When to call an engineer
If the appliance is level, nothing’s touching it, and the noise is genuinely new/louder than before, the compressor mounting or the fan (in frost-free models, there’s a fan circulating cold air) may need attention — worth a professional check, especially if the noise is accompanied by reduced cooling.