Whirlpool ET8WTKXKQ08 Refrigerator making periodic annoying high-pitched humming sound.

Good Afternoon John, thank you for your post! Your new high-efficiency refrigerator may make unfamiliar sounds. These are all normal sounds and soon will become a common hum in your home. This noise also indicates your refrigerator is operating as designed. Hard surfaces, such as vinyl or wood floors, walls, and kitchen cabinets may make sounds more noticeable.


Listed below are descriptions of some of the most common sounds you may hear, and what is causing them:


A. Evaporator: The flow of refrigerant through the evaporator may create a boiling or gurgling sound.


B. Evaporator Fan: You may hear air being forced through the refrigerator by the evaporator fan.


C. Defrost Heater: During defrost cycles, water dripping onto the defrost heater may cause a hissing or sizzling sound. After defrosting, a popping sound may occur.


D. Automatic Ice Maker: If your refrigerator is equipped with an automatic ice maker, you will hear ice cubes falling into the ice bin.


E. Cold Control & Defrost Timer or Automatic Defrost Control: These parts can produce a snapping or clicking sound when turning the refrigerator on and off. The timer also produces sounds similar to an electric clock.


F. Condenser Fan: If condenser coils are located underneath your refrigerator you have a condenser fan. You may hear air being forced through the condenser by the condenser fan.


G. Compressor: Modern, high-efficiency compressors operate much faster than older models. The compressor may have a high-pitched hum or pulsating sound.


H. Water Valve: If your refrigerator is equipped with an automatic ice maker, you will hear a buzzing sound as the water valve opens to fill the ice maker during each cycle.


I. Drain Pan (Non-removable): You may hear water running into the drain pan during the defrost cycle. The drain pan will be located on top of the compressor for air-cooled condensers (black coils on back of refrigerator).


I do hope this information proves to be helpful. Should you need any further assistance please feel free to respond.

Hi,

Here is a tip that I wrote about refrigerators and the fan noisethat they develop sometimes...

RefrigeratorFan Noise
heatman101

Hi,

This noise is most likely coming from the evaporator fan motor that is located behind the panel just below the ice maker. There is an air duct that the fan blows through to cool the ice maker that is why the sound is heard in the ice maker area more.

The noise does not hurt anything but the motor can be replaced if it gets too annoying, it is a fairly common complaint. The part number for the motor is WR60X10185 and runs about $60.00. It is a bit challenging to get to but can be done with a bit of patience by removing everything in the freezer and taking the back panel off the inside of the freezer.

You have to isolate this problem. It could be one of three things. The compressor, the condenser fan motor or the water valve that feeds the ice maker and wtaer dispenser. Also if the high pitch sound is compared to that of a bird then it is definitely the condenser motor. To isolate the problem take the back cover off. LISTEN FOR THE HIGH PITCHED/HUMMING NOISE! Use a flash light and see if you can tell where it is coming from while it is doing the noise. Dont try this unless you know what your doing. Stop the condenser fan blade with the end of a hard object, but stop it gradually. Dont try this cause you might brake/bend the blade. But if you did and the noise stop then you figured out your problem. If not ythen disconnect the water valve. It has to doulble harness wires attached to it. if problem still exisit then it has to come from the compressor. Unless you have a warranty then theres nothing no one can do except change it. $300-400 job easily.

It's the rotors making the noise not the motors! I replaced the motor, still made noise, I took off rotor blade sanded it down around each blade, no more high pitched hum!

Sounds like a motor with bad bearings. In that unit it would be the water pump or condenser fan motor. If the sound is coming from inside the unit it is the water pump.

were is the fan making the noise if it in the freezer and making noise check for frost eany frost you may have defrost problem if it is in the refrigerator change fan if is the condenser fan change

We have summarised all possible problem for this case here to this link
http://www.fixya.com/support/r6008187-side_side_refrigerator_whistling_sound

Fan motor is bad and needs to be replaced.