Fridge not making noise but light on [What to check]

Is your fridge not making noise but light on?

Well, your refrigerator should normally “hum” periodically throughout the day so if your fridge goes silent, this may not be good news.

In this article, I will be taking you step by step through how to troubleshoot and fix your refrigerator if it is not making noise but the lights are on.

Let’s get started.

Fridge not making noise but light on – How to troubleshoot the issue

Your Fridge not making noise but light on?

Check your temperature setting, Check if your refrigerator is in defrosting cycle, and Diagnose it for possible compressor problems.

Read on for the exact steps and more tips

Below, we will look at all the possible fixes for a refrigerator not making noise but light on.

We shall start with the easiest and quickest fix and finish up with the repair that takes more time.

 

Check your temperature setting

Start by checking the set temperature as this is the most common reason for a fridge that makes no noise though the light is on.

Keep in mind that though different refrigerator models have different temperature ranges, the basics are the same -The settings generally range from 0 to a maximum of 9.

That said, others have the range anywhere between 0 and 5 or 0 and 7.

Of course, the actual range will depend on your specific model but their workings are the same.

Now, the highest number signifies the coldest temperature setting whereas 1 signifies the warmest setting.

Importantly, the 0 setting is “off” as it completely turns off cooling.

In short, when the temperature is set to 0, your fridge will not make any noise as it will be set to off.

However, the light will still work when you open the door since it is still connected to the power.

 

How to check

To check if this is the cause of your troubles, simply open your refrigerator door and have a look at the refrigerator’s setting.

If it is set to 0, you can turn the knob clockwise to turn it on and set it to your desired temperature – preferably to the coldest temperature as this will make your fridge to be up and running instantly.

Side note: After setting your temperature, it is advisable to wait for around 24 hours before making another temperature adjustment. That’s because its thermostat is usually slow to respond(the idea is to  give your fridge enough time to stabilize the temperatures).

 

What if the temp setting is fine?

Now, if correcting the temp setting does not get your refrigerator up and “humming”, then you need to turn your attention to the defrosting system (it might be running).

So proceed as follows…

 

Check if your refrigerator is in defrosting cycle

Defrosting is very crucial to your refrigerator-Without regular defrosting, your fridge would get clogged and stop getting cold when needed.

You see, as your fridge works, the air in your fridge will come in contact with the evaporating coil.

Bear in mind that this air has some water vapor.

Moreover, every time you open your refrigerator, some air from the room enters your fridge.

Again this air has some water vapor.

It is this vapor that condenses out of the air, leading to some water droplets or frost forming on the evaporating coil (depending on the temperature of the coil).

To be clear, if the coil is above freezing temperatures, the frost will melt and the water droplets will drip down to the drain pan and drain out of the fridge.

On the other hand, if the evaporating coil’s temperature is below freezing temperatures, the water vapor will condense and stick to the coils.

Ultimately this condensate will accumulate (over time) to an extent of forming a block that impedes the circulation of cold air through your refrigerator.

For this reason, you need to consider defrosting your appliance.

 

A word on defrosting your fridge

Most new-model refrigerators have automatic defrosting enabled on them so these refrigerators will automatically defrost once or twice on a daily basis.

[In contrast, older models of refrigerators require manual defrosting].

Now, when the fridge is automatically defrosting, the compressor and fan will not be working.

Note that the defrost heater at the bottom of the cooling coil will become energized during defrosting.

What you should understand is that as the compressor and fan are turned off temporarily(during defrosting), your fridge will not make any noise and it will only resume humming (occasionally) once defrosting is complete(it takes anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes).

 

Diagnose it for possible compressor problems

Over the years, your refrigerator’s compressor may become faulty.

Subsequently, the compressor could start overheating.

Problem is when the compressor overheats, it tends to go off -and during this time, your refrigerator won’t make noise though the light is likely to still be on.

So you should try to test if the compressor is bad…..

How to test if fridge compressor is damaged

To test if your compressor is the cause of your problems, simply unplug your fridge from power after it goes quiet (for 1 to 4 hours).

Now, if the fridge starts right up afterward, then, your compressor could be overheating (resulting in it malfunctioning) and it will need to be replaced.

Even so, the fact that your fridge started running after unplugging it for some hours does not necessarily point to an overheating compressor- it is just one of the most common causes out of the many possible causes.

So do not be too quick to replace it- observe the appliance for some time because the culprit can be one of those electrical glitches/bugs that gets cleared when you unplug it(remember unplugging resets it to default settings)   

ALSO READ:

How to know fridge compressor is not working

 

Samsung fridge not cooling but light is on

We will now look at how to specifically fix a Samsung fridge that is not cooling but light is on..

If your Samsung fridge is acting up, try these quick tips:

Samsung fridge not cooling but light is on?

Check the temp settings, Clean condenser coils, Verify proper airflow, Check door seals for signs of gaps/damage (repair/replace), Verify if condenser fan is functional, and finally Reset your Samsung refrigerator

#1- Check the temp settings

The temp settings for both your fridge and freezer compartments need to be set correctly.

#2-Clean condenser coils

Access the coils (typically at the rear of the refrigerator or underneath it), and use a vacuum cleaner (or a brush) to clean any accumulate dust and debris (dust and debris here tends to prevent optimal cooling).

#3-Verify proper airflow

To ensure sufficient airflow (very important for effective cooling) all around your fridge, the vents (at the rear of the fridge) should not be obstructed by items. Also make sure they’re not against a wall.

#4-Check door seals for signs of gaps/damage (repair/replace)

Torn seals allow warm air in, hampering cooling

#5-Verify if condenser fan is functional

If the fan has malfunctioned, it often leads to cooling difficulties so listen out for the fan sound (it will be audible if running). If not, try to access it and remove any items blocking it. Replace the fan if it appears damaged.

Reset your Samsung refrigerator

Simply power cycle it. Wait a few minutes (before you plug it back in)

 

Fridge not making noise but light on – wrapping it up

If you have tried all the above troubleshooting steps and none fixes your refrigerator, consider contacting a pro or the manufacturer (if it’s still under warranty) for help.

ALSO READ:

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Why does my fridge make noise at night? (Solved)

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What does a bad refrigerator compressor sound like?

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