The short answer
When a URBD cabinet makes a new noise, work out whether it is continuous, intermittent or only at start-up before doing anything else. Those three patterns split the causes cleanly on this family and they cost nothing to tell apart.
What you observe
- 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.
- 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.
- Gurgling or trickling from inside — Refrigerant moving and condensate running. Both are normal sounds and neither is a fault on their own.
- 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.
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 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 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.
Check in this order
- Look at the drip tray and the base cover at the back — Both move easily and both ring.
- 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.
- 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.
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. Do not bend a refrigerant line to move it away from what it is touching: the tubing on this family is thin, it work-hardens, and a split line ends the appliance.
Models in the URBD family — The models this page covers, as the product spine lists them. This family is a single model, so there is no variant to rule out before you start.
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| UR-BD595WE-ST | black-decker:refrigerator:urbd |
When to call
Call if the noise is getting louder week by week, or if it is accompanied by a compressor that starts and stops again within seconds. Both point past the free checks.
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.
