It goes without saying that refrigerators are a must-have for every home. Whether you want to store your fresh food or tasty leftovers to relish, later on, a refrigerator stores your food and keeps it fresh, so it doesn’t lose its taste.
The longer you keep your food, the more the chances that it will be consumed. Of course, no one wants to see their food go to waste, which makes refrigerators an intelligent investment.
Frigidaire is one of the household names in the electric appliances industry. The company has been around for quite some time now, and for good reasons. It has sold countless units and has millions of happy customers all over the world.
The company has certainly offered great appliances equipped with all the modern features over the years.
Frigidaire refrigerators are a kitchen appliance that every homeowner loves to have, and they are essentially great in terms of durability, and features. There are hardly any problems that you’d encounter while using these refrigerators.
However, one hiccup that customers often face is the clicking sounds from the refrigerator. Of course, it’s annoying, even if it’s not loud.
And if you have placed the refrigerator near your room and were trying to sleep when you start hearing this sound, you’d know how bothersome it could be.
Here are a few things that one will need to know about the factor and how it can be fixed.
Why Frigidaire Refrigerator Is Making Clicking Noise?
There could be many reasons why your Frigidaire refrigerator has started making clicking sounds lately.
1. Relays
There are essential relays on the mainboard that open and close with the functioning of the refrigerator. The start relays will close when the refrigerator takes a break and then turns on again.
To keep the compressor working optimally and to avoid defrosting, the compressor automatically trips, and that may cause this clicking sound.
The best way to figure it out is to ensure that you are turning the refrigerator off and on manually, and if you hear the same clicking sounds on that as well, most probably, that would be the relay sound.
If you are listening to the same clicking sounds on turning the refrigerator on and off manually as well, that would mean your refrigerator is fine, and there is not much that you will have to worry about.
So, what to do if you have a faulty start relay? Well, it’s a good rule of thumb to reach out to an electrician. They’d tell you the reason and solution for this clicking sound coming from the start relay.
If they suggest replacing it, the good news for you is that the process is quite straightforward. However, it’s recommended not to undertake this task.
Before you begin, make sure to wear work gloves to protect yourself. First, shut off the power. Start by unplugging the power cord to ensure your safety. Now, remove the rear compartment cover by removing the screws and pulling it off.
A screwdriver would come in handy to unscrew the screws. Now, find the start relay so you can take it off. It is located in the same compartment as the compressor.
Once you see the start relay, pry off the wire retainer which is holding it on the compressor. You may need pliers for this purpose. Now, pull the start relay gently and disconnect the wire harness from the start relay.
The next step is to install the new compressor relay. For this purpose, transfer the run capacitor from the old start relay to the new one and plug in the wire harness.
Now, plug the new start relay into the terminals and reinstall the wire retainer to hold the start relay in place. Lastly, reinstall the rear compartment cover that you initially took off and make sure to tighten the screws.
That’s it! Plugin the refrigerator and see whether it works or not. If it doesn’t, seek help from a professional to find out whether you replaced it correctly or not.
2. Compressor Overload
Compressor overload is another reason for the clicking sound coming from your Frigidaire refrigerator.
It can cause you to have a few other problems as well, such as the compressor might turn itself off, and then it will automatically turn on in a few seconds.
That could be due to the compressor getting old, some wattage fluctuations, or other similar reasons. If that’s the case, you’d need to see a professional electrician to inspect your refrigerator and compressor to help you get rid of this nuisance.
At times, the compressor might be getting overloaded due to lesser refrigerant that might be caused due to a leak in the system, or it might need a replacement since compressors in refrigerators are not meant to last forever.
They may wear out over time and cause this problem.
The most accurate and easiest way to check the compressor of your Frigidaire refrigerator is by using a multimeter. Before using a multimeter for this purpose, don’t forget to set it to the lowest ohms of resistance.
At the backside of the compressor, you’d see three terminals. Now, grab the wires of the multimeter and attach them to two terminals. See the reading and then again attach the wires to a common and the other terminal.
Make sure to include the common terminal in both readings. Take the readings and add them to determine whether your compressor is fine or faulty. If both readings are somewhere between 4.5 to 5.5, the compressor is good.
3. Dirty Condenser
A dirty condenser is one of the most common reasons behind the clicking sound of the Frigidaire refrigerator. If there is some dirt on the condenser or some other particles clogging it, it will cause a load on the compressor
If your refrigerator has started making too much noise lately, the chances are that the dirty condenser is the reason.
Making sure that you clean the condenser regularly and keeping it away from dirt should be enough for you to ensure that you will not have to face this problem in the future.
To clean the condenser, take off the back panel first. And yes, don’t forget to unplug the refrigerator before performing any repair. Once it is removed, you’d be able to see the condenser. If it is clogged, it’s time to clean it up.
Consider using a vacuum cleaner to clean the condenser, but first, clean it with a brush. Of course, you won’t be able to reach those nooks and crannies, which is why using a vacuum cleaner is a viable option
Once you have cleaned it thoroughly, put on the back cover and turn on the refrigerator.
4. Auto-Defrost
If you own a newer model, your Frigidaire refrigerator might also be auto-defrosting as that helps the refrigerator to maintain optimal temperature.
When the refrigerator is in auto-defrost mode, the ice inside the refrigerator and freezer compartment will melt and break down, and that can be the reason. The clicking sound you hear could be the ice breaking down.
5. Get it Checked
If you have thoroughly checked these factors and are still unable to diagnose where the clicking sounds are coming from, consider getting it checked by an authorized technician who will be able to pinpoint these clicking noises and see what can be done about them.
Waiting for the problem to worsen is never a good idea, and it could lead to even costlier repairs if the problem persists.
Fortunately, most Frigidaire refrigerator models come with a warranty. So, make sure to refer to your warranty card to pay the least from your pocket.