In one paragraph
Refrigerators make more noise than owners expect — fans, a compressor, expanding plastic and water moving through a sealed system — so the useful question is not whether it is noisy but which component the noise belongs to. A drain pan that has moved or is rattling on its mounts is the first thing to suspect on a Criterion, because a value-tier build puts the cheap wearing parts — filters, hoses, seals, screens — in the path of everything the machine does, so they are where the fault usually is. Levelling, clearance and clearing a fan are owner work; a compressor or a fan motor replacement is not.
What you can see and hear
- A rattle or hum from the lower back of the cabinet — The condenser fan or the compressor mounts.
- Chirping, squealing or grinding that comes and goes — A fan blade catching ice, most often on a cabinet with a defrost problem.
- A buzzing or rattling that changes when you press on the cabinet — Panels, the drain pan or a loose grille rather than a mechanism.
- NEAR MISS — Gurgling and occasional popping — Refrigerant moving and plastic expanding; both are normal.
The causes and their order
- A drain pan that has moved or is rattling on its mounts — First on this brand: a value-tier build puts the cheap wearing parts — filters, hoses, seals, screens — in the path of everything the machine does, so they are where the fault usually is. The pan sits over the compressor area where it is vibrated continuously, and one knocked out of position rattles with every compressor start.
- The cabinet touching a wall, a unit or its own water line — Second: Anything rigid touching the cabinet becomes a sounding board; a water line resting against the wall transmits the compressor into the room.
- A cabinet not level or standing on an uneven floor — Third, and the last to suspect: Compressor vibration that would be inaudible on a level cabinet becomes a buzz when one foot is unloaded and the cabinet can rock. A store-brand unit is usually carried home and set up by the owner rather than by a delivery crew, and setup errors survive for years.
The order to work in
- Look at the pan at the back underneath and check it is seated — A pan sitting crooked is both a noise source and a leak risk. It goes first because it is the cheapest thing to rule out and it decides which half of this list you are in.
- Pull the cabinet forward and check nothing touches the sides or the back — A line or a cord pressed against the wall is a common and easily fixed source.
- Push the top corners in turn and watch the feet — Any rock means a foot is not carrying weight, and that is where the noise is coming from.
What an owner can safely check
- Reseat the drain pan on its mounts and clear any debris under it — Unplug the cabinet before reaching under it, and expect the pan to hold water.
Tools: torch, towelsAbout 20 min
- Give the cabinet clearance and route the water line and cord so nothing rests against the wall — A hand-space at the back and a finger-space at the sides is a reasonable target on most cabinets.
About 20 min
- Stop here if the next move needs a meter on live terminals — That is where an owner check ends and a service call begins.
Working safely on this machine
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Refrigerant is licensed work: oil or a hiss at the compressor means stop and call, and two people move a cabinet this size.
When to stop and call
Call when the cabinet is level, clear of everything, the pan is seated and the noise persists — especially for a noise inside the freezer that suggests a fan striking ice, because that usually means a defrost fault behind it. One line to keep in mind while you wait: A refrigerator holds food safely at 40 °F (4 °C) or below.
Other faults on this machine
Scope of this page
This page covers Criterion refrigerators as a class, not one family or model line. No family- or model-specific page exists beneath it yet; when one is published it will be linked here and it will outrank this page for a named model. Deliberately not here: wiring colours, resistance values, torque figures and part numbers, which differ between families.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
