The short answer
Most noise complaints on the BUC family trace to the cabinet and what it stands on rather than to a failing part. These are light units with a compressor mounted close to a thin rear panel, so a floor that flexes or a cabinet out of level turns a normal running sound into a noise the whole room hears.
What you observe
- A click or clunk every so often, then silence — Start and stop events. On this platform they are normal in moderation and worth investigating when they repeat quickly.
- Gurgling or trickling from inside — Refrigerant moving and condensate running. Both are normal sounds and neither is a fault on their own.
- A whine or whirr that rises and falls — A fan, where the model has one. It changes with the door open on some builds, which is the quickest way to identify it.
- The noise changes when you lean on the cabinet — That is the whole diagnosis in one move: the cabinet is transmitting into the floor or into what it is touching.
Causes, most likely first
- The cabinet standing out of level or on a flexing floor — First on this family. A light cabinet does not damp its own vibration the way a heavy one does, so a foot that is not carrying weight lets the whole shell move with the compressor.
- The cabinet touching a wall, a unit or a stored item — Second. On a compact unit sited in a tight space, the sides and back are close to something almost by definition, and any contact turns the shell into a sounding board.
- The drip tray resonating on its rails — A shallow tray under the cabinet moves easily and rings when the compressor runs. Repositioning it is free and it removes a noise that sounds far more serious than it is.
- The compressor itself — Last. Internal compressor noise is real but rare on this platform, and it is also the one cause here that is not repairable - it is a replacement decision rather than a repair.
Check in this order
- Look at the drip tray and the base cover at the back — Both move easily and both ring.
- Put a level on the cabinet and check every foot is carrying weight — Second because it is free and because it is the first-ranked cause on this family.
- Note whether the noise is continuous, intermittent or only at start-up — This splits the list in three before you touch anything, and it is the single most useful thing you can establish.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Never reach behind a running fan to find a noise - stop the unit first, because the blade on this platform sits close to the panel opening.
Models in the BUC family — The models this page covers, as the product spine lists them. This is the widest family covered here, so the table is the reliable way to confirm yours is in it.
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| BUC1100XB | black-decker:refrigerator:buc |
| BUC1100XS | black-decker:refrigerator:buc |
| BUC1100XW | black-decker:refrigerator:buc |
| BUC1400XB | black-decker:refrigerator:buc |
| BUC1400XS | black-decker:refrigerator:buc |
| BUC1400XW | black-decker:refrigerator:buc |
| BUC1700XB | black-decker:refrigerator:buc |
| BUC1700XS | black-decker:refrigerator:buc |
| BUC1700XW | black-decker:refrigerator:buc |
| BUC2100JB | black-decker:refrigerator:buc |
| BUC2100JS | black-decker:refrigerator:buc |
| BUC2100JW | black-decker:refrigerator:buc |
| BUC2120M* | black-decker:refrigerator:buc |
When to call
Call when the cabinet is level, clear of everything around it, and still noisy in the same way. At that point the cause is a mount, a fan or the compressor, and all three sit behind the rear panel.
Other faults on this family
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
