3 Reasons Why LG Refrigerator Makes Loud Humming Noise

The topic of refrigerator noises can be quite a challenging one to understand. On the one hand, there are normal noises that all LG fridges make. On the other, some sounds only happen when there’s a problem. Loud humming noises fall into both categories, depending on the root cause.

Loud humming noises from your LG refrigerator could be part of the compressor’s regular operation. That’s especially true with linear compressor models that get louder as the compressor speeds up. However, a malfunctioning or damaged compressor will also produce loud humming noises that last several hours without stopping.

This guide will help you understand which kinds of loud humming noises are typical and which are problematic. You’ll also discover how to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

An LG refrigerator that hums loudly isn’t necessarily facing a problem. In other words, there are situations when you have nothing to fix.

Still, loud humming could indicate a severe problem, particularly around the fridge’s compressor.

Here are the problematic and non-problematic reasons your LG fridge is humming and what you can do about it:

Normal Compressor Operation

About this: The compressor is the heart of your LG fridge’s cooling system. As its name suggests, this component is designed to compress the refrigerant and help distribute it throughout the sealed cooling system.

The most important thing to understand about the compressor is that it doesn’t run continuously. Instead, the compressor will only stay on to bring the fridge down to your set temperature.

Once the fridge is cold enough, the compressor will shut off until the internal temperature becomes too warm.

What’s happening: Firstly, when you hear a sudden and loud humming noise coming from your refrigerator, you’re likely listening to the compressor turn on. 

The humming can seem loud if the fridge has been quiet for an extended period, especially if it turns on in the middle of the night.

This loud humming noise is part of the LG fridge’s regular compressor operation.

How to fix it: Seeing as this humming noise is part of the compressor’s regular operation, there’s nothing to fix. The noise will stop once the fridge becomes cold, and the compressor shuts itself off.

Having said that, you should keep an eye on that compressor for problem signs. For example, suppose the compressor keeps humming loudly for more than one hour without stopping. In that case, the humming you hear is not part of its regular operation.

You’ll want to troubleshoot the compressor further to figure out what’s wrong with it.

Read: How To Fix LG Refrigerator Ice Maker Freezing Up

Linear Compressor Speeding Up

About this: Some LG refrigerators are equipped with linear compressors instead of conventional ones. These compressors operate differently and are, therefore, much more efficient.

A conventional fridge compressor will only turn on or off as needed. However, a linear compressor can adjust its speed depending on how intensely it needs to cool your fridge and freezer compartments.

For example, the compressor will work at high speed if the fridge is very warm and needs intensive cooling to reach your set temperature. However, if only slight cooling is required, the compressor can use much less energy by running slower.

What’s happening: As before, you will hear the linear compressor start humming when it begins cooling. However, with linear compressors, you’ll listen to the humming get much louder when it speeds up.

How to fix it: This humming is part of the fridge’s normal operations. So, you have nothing to worry about. There is nothing to fix.

Still, you should pay attention to the noise to ensure that it doesn’t last longer than 1 hour. This is because compressors turn on and off repeatedly throughout the day. However, a continuously loud humming that lasts longer than an hour is a sign of a problem.

Those problems include a malfunctioning compressor or one that has suffered internal damage. 

Both of those problems are discussed below.

The topic of refrigerator noises can be quite a challenging one to understand. On the one hand, there are normal noises that all LG fridges make. On the other, some sounds only happen when there’s a problem. Loud humming noises fall into both categories, depending on the root cause.

Loud humming noises from your LG refrigerator could be part of the compressor’s regular operation. That’s especially true with linear compressor models that get louder as the compressor speeds up. However, a malfunctioning or damaged compressor will also produce loud humming noises that last several hours without stopping.

This guide will help you understand which kinds of loud humming noises are typical and which are problematic. You’ll also discover how to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

An LG refrigerator that hums loudly isn’t necessarily facing a problem. In other words, there are situations when you have nothing to fix.

Still, loud humming could indicate a severe problem, particularly around the fridge’s compressor.

Here are the problematic and non-problematic reasons your LG fridge is humming and what you can do about it:

Normal Compressor Operation

About this: The compressor is the heart of your LG fridge’s cooling system. As its name suggests, this component is designed to compress the refrigerant and help distribute it throughout the sealed cooling system.

The most important thing to understand about the compressor is that it doesn’t run continuously. Instead, the compressor will only stay on to bring the fridge down to your set temperature.

Once the fridge is cold enough, the compressor will shut off until the internal temperature becomes too warm.

What’s happening: Firstly, when you hear a sudden and loud humming noise coming from your refrigerator, you’re likely listening to the compressor turn on. 

The humming can seem loud if the fridge has been quiet for an extended period, especially if it turns on in the middle of the night.

This loud humming noise is part of the LG fridge’s regular compressor operation.

How to fix it: Seeing as this humming noise is part of the compressor’s regular operation, there’s nothing to fix. The noise will stop once the fridge becomes cold, and the compressor shuts itself off.

Having said that, you should keep an eye on that compressor for problem signs. For example, suppose the compressor keeps humming loudly for more than one hour without stopping. In that case, the humming you hear is not part of its regular operation.

You’ll want to troubleshoot the compressor further to figure out what’s wrong with it.

Read: How To Fix LG Refrigerator Ice Maker Freezing Up

Linear Compressor Speeding Up

About this: Some LG refrigerators are equipped with linear compressors instead of conventional ones. These compressors operate differently and are, therefore, much more efficient.

A conventional fridge compressor will only turn on or off as needed. However, a linear compressor can adjust its speed depending on how intensely it needs to cool your fridge and freezer compartments.

For example, the compressor will work at high speed if the fridge is very warm and needs intensive cooling to reach your set temperature. However, if only slight cooling is required, the compressor can use much less energy by running slower.

What’s happening: As before, you will hear the linear compressor start humming when it begins cooling. However, with linear compressors, you’ll listen to the humming get much louder when it speeds up.

How to fix it: This humming is part of the fridge’s normal operations. So, you have nothing to worry about. There is nothing to fix.

Still, you should pay attention to the noise to ensure that it doesn’t last longer than 1 hour. This is because compressors turn on and off repeatedly throughout the day. However, a continuously loud humming that lasts longer than an hour is a sign of a problem.

Those problems include a malfunctioning compressor or one that has suffered internal damage. 

Both of those problems are discussed below.