Refrigerator running constantly or clicking on and off
A fridge that seems to run all the time may be doing exactly what it was designed to do.
Soon Long run times can be normal, but a fridge that runs nonstop and is warming, or clicks repeatedly without starting, is heading toward a food-safety problem.
What this symptom usually means
A fridge that seems to run all the time may be doing exactly what it was designed to do. GE says modern refrigerator compressors are designed to run 80 to 90 per cent of the time, and close to 100 per cent in hot, humid weather. Whirlpool says newer high-efficiency compressors run for long periods at varying speeds, so a new fridge may run longer than the one it replaced. After a move, a repair or a big grocery load, LG and Whirlpool both say it can take a day or two (Whirlpool gives 24 to 48 hours) to pull back down to temperature. What pushes run time up beyond normal, according to GE: frequent or long door openings, a damaged or dirty door gasket, blocked freezer vents, dirty condenser coils on models that have serviceable coils, a nearly empty freezer, an interior light that stays on, and a room that is very warm. Setting the controls colder than needed also lengthens run time.
Clicking is a separate question. GE lists a click when the temperature control turns the fridge on and off, and a tick-tock from the defrost timer, as normal. It also says a clicking noise for three to five minutes after a power cut is the compressor trying to restart. Whirlpool says some models with dual evaporators make rapid repetitive clicks as they switch between compartments, which is normal, and that an ice maker left on without a water supply can buzz or click. Clicking that keeps repeating while the fridge warms up is different: the compressor may not be starting, and that is a technician's check.
Checks you can do yourself
- Give it time after a changeIf the fridge was just installed, moved, serviced, or filled with groceries, wait 24 to 48 hours before judging the run time, as Whirlpool and LG advise.
- Check the settingsWhirlpool says controls are preset to a mid setting and that setting them colder than needed makes the fridge run longer. Aim for about 3 to 4 °C in the fridge and −18 °C in the freezer.
- Door and gasketMake sure both doors close fully and nothing on a shelf is holding them open. Wipe the gaskets with warm soapy water. LG notes that a gasket that no longer grips lets cold air escape and keeps the motor running.
- Interior lightPress the door switch by hand and check the light goes out. GE lists a light that stays on as a cause of extra run time.
- Clearance and heatLeave the space the manual asks for at the sides and top, and don't block the base grille. Whirlpool advises against installing the fridge next to an oven or radiator or behind a cabinet door, and gives a room range of 13 °C to 43 °C (55 °F to 110 °F) for its models.
- Coils, if accessibleOn models with reachable condenser coils, unplug the fridge and vacuum the dust. Samsung says heavy dust on the coils can make the fridge run continuously or even stop from an overheated compressor. Skip this if your manual shows sealed coils.
- Ice maker without waterIf the ice maker is on but no water line is connected, turn it off. Whirlpool says the water valve will buzz or click as it tries to fill.
Nothing above involves gas, wiring, refrigerant or removing panels.
What you notice, and what it can point to
Listed in no particular order. They help you describe the problem; only an inspection confirms the fault.
New fridge runs far longer than the old one, temperatures fine
Could point to: High-efficiency or variable-speed compressor working as designed
Next step: No action needed; confirm temperatures with a thermometer
Runs nonstop for a day after a move or big grocery load
Could point to: Fridge pulling back down to temperature
Next step: Wait 24 to 48 hours with the doors closed
Runs nonstop and a door doesn't seal or the light stays on
Could point to: Warm air getting in, or heat from the lamp
Next step: Clean or check the gasket; check the door switch and light
Runs nonstop, back of fridge hot, coils dusty
Could point to: Condenser can't shed heat
Next step: Unplug and vacuum accessible coils; book if it continues
Clicking for a few minutes after a power cut, then runs
Could point to: Compressor waiting to restart
Next step: Normal, according to GE
Clicks every few minutes, compressor never starts, fridge warming
Could point to: Compressor not starting (start components or compressor)
Next step: Protect the food and book a technician
How it differs by design
- Single-speed compressors (many older and basic models) switch fully on and off, so you hear distinct starts and stops. GE says frequent starts and stops are normal as the control holds the temperature.
- High-efficiency, variable-speed compressors (Whirlpool describes these in its newer models) are meant to run for long stretches at lower speed. Long run time on these is not a fault by itself.
- Dual-evaporator models can make rapid clicking as a valve switches cooling between compartments, according to Whirlpool.
- Coil location: GE lists dirty condenser coils as a cause only on models without its NeverClean condenser. Other brands also vary, so check the manual before removing a kick plate.
What our technician checks
These need panels off, live electrical tests or a licensed trade, so they are left to the technician:
- Removing the rear access panel to reach the compressor, relay or overload
- Any test on compressor terminals or wiring
- Anything involving refrigerant: leak search, recovery or recharge
Waived when you go ahead with the repair. You get the cause, the price and our repair-or-replace verdict in writing before any work.
Repairs a technician may recommend
After inspection, not from the symptom alone.
Condenser fan or coil service
When the coils are clogged or the condenser fan isn't moving air, so heat can't leave the fridge. Samsung lists the condenser fan among its checks for a fridge that starts and stops too often.
Start relay or overload protector replacement
When the compressor clicks and won't stay running. Samsung lists these among the parts to check; the technician tests them and the compressor before quoting.
Door gasket replacement or door adjustment
When a gasket is torn or no longer seals, or the door has dropped.
Defrost system repair
When the freezer's evaporator ices over and the fridge runs constantly trying to keep up. See excessive frost buildup.
Temperature sensor or control replacement
When the control keeps calling for cooling although the compartments are already cold.
Sealed-system diagnosis
Only after the simpler causes are ruled out. RepairWell diagnoses it; refrigerant work is done by a certified refrigeration technician we work with.
Brands we see with this problem
Codes, parts and access differ by brand; the brand pages cover where the model label is and what to expect.
Brand-specific repair and error-code guides
Cost, and whether to fix it
What the repair costs depends on the part, the labour and whether a second visit is needed for an ordered part; the written finding gives the total before any work. Our guides on what drives repair costs, refrigerator repair costs and repair versus replacement explain how to weigh it.
When to book
Book if the fridge still runs nonstop two days after a move or big load with the doors sealing and the coils clean, if either section is warming, or if you hear clicking every few minutes with no compressor run. Note roughly how long it runs and how long it stays off, and whether the fridge is holding temperature. That tells us whether we're looking at airflow, the defrost system or the compressor start. The visit is $89 with a written finding, waived if you go ahead with the repair. See refrigerator repair for what the diagnosis covers.
We handle this across Ottawa and Gatineau
Related problems
Refrigerator running constantly or clicking on and off: questions
How long should a fridge run in a day?
GE says compressors are designed to run 80 to 90 per cent of the time, and close to 100 per cent in hot, humid weather. Long run time on its own is not a fault if the temperatures are right.
My new fridge never seems to turn off. Is it broken?
Probably not. Whirlpool says high-efficiency compressors run for long periods at varying speeds and that a new fridge will run longer than an older one. Give it 24 to 48 hours after installation and check the temperatures.
Why does my fridge click on and off?
GE lists a click when the control turns the fridge on or off, and a tick-tock from the defrost timer, as normal. Repeated clicking with no compressor running while the fridge warms is not normal; that may be the compressor failing to start.
Is it normal for the fridge to click after a power outage?
GE says clicking for three to five minutes after a power cut is the compressor trying to restart. If it goes on much longer and the fridge doesn't cool, book a diagnosis.
Does a fridge that runs constantly cost more to run?
It uses more energy than one that is sealing and breathing properly. The checks above, especially the gasket and coils, address the causes GE and Whirlpool list for extra run time.
Sources
- GE Appliances: Refrigerator - normal cycle times
- GE Appliances: Refrigerator or freezer - normal run time
- GE Appliances: Refrigerator - normal sounds and noises made
- Whirlpool Product Help: Motor or compressor runs too much (side-by-side)
- Whirlpool Product Help: Clicking noise - refrigerator
- LG USA Support: The refrigerator operates continuously
- Samsung India: Why refrigerator starts and stops frequently?
Sources checked 2026-09-24.
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