This really adds to your noise in the kitchen. The compressor unit is the engine that powers the fridge's cooling mechanism. The compressor should reach a set temperature according to your desired setting (on the thermostat) and then turn off for a while – before restarting to cool down your food again when it gets to a certain temperature to stop the food spoiling.

There are a few reasons the compressor could be continuously cycling on and off. It could be that the fridge has heaps of dust built up around the condenser coils, which are usually at the rear of the fridge, and/or the temperature has been set too low for the compressor to cope.

You'll also find that the compressor will kick in if a large amount of food has been added, if the temperature outside and around the fridge is very high, or if the seals around the fridge or freezer doors aren't working properly.

Dust on the condenser coils

The first solution is to turn off the fridge, drag it out and make sure there's minimal dust on the condenser coils. If the coils are exposed, you can wait for them to cool down, then wipe off the dust (or vacuum it off if you prefer). If you've got a more modern fridge that covers the condenser coils, you'll need to remove the grill first, then wipe or vacuum the coils. Don't forget to put the grill back on once you've finished. If you're not confident removing the grill, or your manual doesn't advise it, just vacuum the outside of the grill.

Setting the temperature too low

If you set your fridge temperature below -18C for the freezer, or lower than 3C for the fridge, your compressor is going to have to work overtime. Putting your fridge or freezer temperatures extra low won't speed up the cooling time – your fridge will just struggle to get it down that low. This chews up more energy and ends up costing you more money in the long run (as well as potentially making your fridge noisier). Your perfect temperatures are around -18C for the freezer and 3C for the fridge. Follow the fridge manual to adjust the temperature.

Ensure there is adequate space/ventilation around your fridge/freezer

Make sure you have enough air space around the fridge. Your fridge may be noisy because it doesn't have enough room to move hot air away to the surrounds, and needs to work harder to cool the fridge. The right amount of space can be found in your user manual, otherwise at least 5–10cm around the sides, top and rear is generally enough. Install the fridge away from direct sunlight and any heat-generating appliances (i.e. ovens, dishwashers, heaters, etc).

Refrigeration

Troubleshooting guide