The short answer
New noise from a BUF model is most often the cabinet touching something, the unit sitting out of level, or the compressor mount having settled. All three are checkable without a tool, and all three come before anything that requires a panel off on this platform.
What you observe
- Gurgling or trickling from inside — Refrigerant moving and condensate running. Both are normal sounds and neither is a fault on their own.
- A steady buzz or hum that was not there before — Continuous and tied to the compressor running. It points at mounting, level or contact with something rather than at a component that is about to fail.
- 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.
- A rattle that comes and goes — Intermittent noise is nearly always contact - a line touching the shell, a tray moving, or a shelf that is not seated.
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 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.
- 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.
Check in this order
- Rest a hand firmly on the top and on each side while it runs — If the noise changes, it is the shell transmitting, and the cause is level or contact rather than a component.
- Pull the cabinet clear of the wall and anything beside it, and listen again — It rules contact in or out in one move, without any tool.
- Open the door and listen for the noise changing — On models with a fan that stops with the door, this identifies the fan without opening anything.
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 BUF family — The models this page covers, as the product spine lists them. This family spans more than one stem, and the stem is worth confirming in the table before any part is ordered.
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| BUF1000LB | black-decker:refrigerator:buf |
| BUF1000LS | black-decker:refrigerator:buf |
| BUF1000LW | black-decker:refrigerator:buf |
| BUF850LB | black-decker:refrigerator:buf |
| BUF850LS | black-decker:refrigerator:buf |
| BUF850LW | black-decker:refrigerator:buf |
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.
