In one paragraph
For a ARTM unit: the useful first question is whether the noise is constant or intermittent. A constant noise is a fan or a compressor; an intermittent one is a cycle — defrost, ice maker, or a compressor trying to start and failing. That is the same list the brand-generic page carries, in a different order.
What you observe on a ARTM unit
- A rattle from low down at the back — The condenser fan, the drip tray or a loose panel — all three live in the same place. On these ARTM models it is the observation that decides the order.
- A scraping that comes and goes with the weather — A fan blade catching on ice that grows and retreats with the defrost cycle.
- The noise appears for a few minutes and then stops for an hour — That rhythm matches the defrost cycle, and several defrost sounds are entirely normal.
- Two appliances stand side by side and touch — Cabinets in contact transmit vibration into each other and produce a buzz neither makes alone.
- NEAR MISS: water is on the floor as well — A rattling drip tray and a leak are neighbours; if there is water, start on the leak page.
Ranked causes on the ARTM line
- A worn evaporator fan motor or a blade catching ice — Ranked first because it is both the most common and the easiest to localise: the noise changes when the freezer door opens, and nothing else on this list does that. This holds its place across the ARTM models listed below.
- A condenser fan obstructed by dust, a wrapper or a bent guard — Second. It lives at floor level at the back of the appliance, where everything eventually ends up.
- A failing compressor mount or an internal compressor fault — Last, and deliberately so: it is the least likely cause of a new noise and the only one that is not an owner check. A knocking that survives every other check is where it enters the conversation.
Check in this order, and why
- Time the noise against the appliance cycle — Constant is a fan or a compressor. Every few minutes is a relay. On a schedule and brief is the ice maker. The ARTM layout is the reason it comes first here.
- Press gently on the rear panel while the noise is happening — A noise that stops under a hand is a loose panel and nothing more.
- Ask whether the cooling has changed as well — Noise plus warmth is a different and more urgent branch than noise alone.
Safety first
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before a hand goes near a fan blade or a panel comes off; a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is gone. Fans start without warning while the appliance is powered, whatever the doors are doing, and the condenser area stays hot long after the power is cut.
Models in the ARTM family
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| ARTM142** | aviva:refrigerator:artm |
When this becomes a service call
Call when the free checks are clean and the noise remains, and call the same day for a repeated click that is followed by silence rather than by the compressor starting. Everything behind the freezer rear panel is service work.
Same class, other symptoms for the ARTM line
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
