The short answer
When a machine from the RMS family starts making a sound it did not make before, the useful first move is not to open it but to work out whether the sound stops when the compressor does. Most refrigeration noise is not a fault, and the useful work on this page is separating the sounds a working cabinet makes from the two or three that mean something has moved or worn.
What you observe on these models
- A gurgle or a bubbling sound after it stops — That is refrigerant settling, and it is normal on every cabinet of this kind. It is worth naming so nobody pays to have it investigated.
- A buzz that is loudest at the back corner — Tubing that has been pushed against the cabinet skin - often when the unit was last moved - transmits everything the compressor does straight into the panel.
- A deep hum that has got noticeably louder — A hum that has grown rather than appeared usually means the machine is running more, which is a cooling complaint wearing a noise costume.
- NEAR MISS - the sound is a hiss and there is a smell — Stop there. Isolate the cabinet and call a technician rather than working through this page.
Causes, most likely first on this platform
- A pipe resting where it should be clear — The pipework at the back is routed with deliberate clearance. Anything that pushes a line against the shell - a move, a shove into a tight space, a wall bracket - gives the compressor a direct path into a large flat panel, which is exactly what a loudspeaker is. Several distinct bases means several depths, and the deeper cabinet pushed into a tight space is the one whose pipework ends up resting on something.
- Levelling, feet and what the cabinet is touching — Second on this platform. Levelling and contact stay on the list to the end because they cost nothing to rule out and because they explain a noise that arrived after a move with nothing at all having failed.
- The rubber the compressor sits on — Third here. Mounts that have hardened give a knock at each end of the cycle and lift the general noise floor. It is an age story rather than a breakage, and it is almost never urgent.
- A fan fouling on ice or a wire — Fourth. On a model that has a fan, ice or a stray wire touching the blade is worth a look, though confirming it means a panel off, which is why it sits under the free checks.
- The start relay or the compressor itself — Last. Last, and the only entry here that is urgent: repeated clicking without cooling means the compressor is not starting, and every further attempt costs it something.
Check in this order, and why
- Press a hand flat on the top and the side — If the sound drops while you press, you are listening to a panel resonating rather than a part failing, and the fix is damping or clearance rather than parts. The 2 entries below sit on 2 different bases, so confirm your own code before carrying a neighbour's result across.
- Take the loading out of the equation — Bottles touching each other and a loose shelf make noises that sound mechanical from the next room. Empty the shelves once before assuming anything about the machine.
- Pull it out and look at what is touching — Check the back panel against the wall, the sides against the cabinetry and the pipework against the shell. Half of these complaints end here, with nothing broken.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel, and remember that a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Never reach into a fan opening to stop a blade or to feel for an obstruction while the unit is live, and never wedge the door switch to keep a fan running so you can listen to it.
Models in the RMS family
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| RMS550PS | avanti:refrigerator:rms |
| RMS551SS | avanti:refrigerator:rms |
When to call a technician
Levelling, contact and loading are yours; a bearing, a relay or a compressor is not. Go straight to a call if the machine clicks in bursts and then falls silent without ever cooling, and isolate it while you wait rather than letting it keep trying, because each failed start costs it something.
Other faults covered for these models
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
