A fridge will beep if you leave its doors open.
But what if you heard your refrigerator beeping…
Then, when you come near it, you see that it’s closed?
Let me tell you that there’s no mystery behind it.
And along with the answers, I’ll also give you the fixes.
Continue reading to discover:
- 7 reasons why your fridge is beeping and how to fix them.
- How to safely clean your refrigerator’s gasket so its doors can close completely.
- How cold your refrigerator and freezer should be to stop your fridge from beeping.
- And this is just the beginning…
Why is my fridge beeping when closed? 7 reasons + fixes
#1: Your fridge’s doors aren’t fully closed
This is the most common reason why your fridge is beeping.
See, your refrigerator can only maintain its temperature level if you ensure this:
That the doors are completely closed, therefore preventing any cold air from leaking.
Now, most modern fridges have an alarm system that goes off whenever their doors are open for too long.
With that in mind, the easiest way to fix this problem is to shut your appliance’s doors again.
That’s because they may appear closed but might actually have small gaps on their sides.
However, before you do so…
Ensure that no container or food is on the edge of your fridge’s shelves. Because sometimes, they cause your refrigerator’s door not to close all the way through.
That said, after shutting your fridge’s doors again, wait for 5 minutes.
Then, observe if the beeping sound persists.
#2: Its gasket is dirty or weary
Your fridge’s gasket is the rubber that completely seals the air inside your fridge.
Now, it might seem small in comparison to the overall door. However, note that if the gasket is dirty or damaged in any manner…
Your fridge’s doors may not close completely.
As a result, a small gap will let the cold air from your refrigerator escape. And your fridge won’t stop beeping.
However, fret not. It’s easy to…
Clean the gasket of your refrigerator:
Step 1: Create a solution that can clean your gasket
You don’t need to buy specialized soap or anything to clean your fridge’s rubber seal.
See, all you need to do is mix up a cleaning solution with the items you have at home.
That said, there are 2 DIY solutions I use to clean my gasket.
And the first 1 is the…
Vinegar + water solution:
- Grab a measuring cup.
- Fill it with ½ cup of vinegar.
- Pour this into a large bowl.
- Measure 1 ½ cup of warm water.
- Pour this into your vinegar.
- Slow stir the mixture.
Now, if you don’t like the smell of vinegar, you may also create this…
Baking soda solution:
- Pour 1 tablespoon of baking soda into a bowl.
- Measure 4 cups of warm water.
- Mix the 2 ingredients.
Once you have your cleaning solution ready…
Step 2: Prepare a sponge or brush
You may also use a washcloth to clean your gasket.
However, I’ve found that using an old sponge or toothbrush removes its dirt and stains faster.
That said, prepare a cleaning material that works for you, then proceed to…
Step 3: Clean your fridge’s rubber seals
Dip your brush or sponge into the cleaning solution you made.
Then, gently scrub your fridge’s gasket.
Important: Don’t use too much force when brushing your refrigerator’s rubber seal. That’s because it’s vulnerable to holes and tears.
Note: Clean both your refrigerator and freezer doors.
Step 4: Dry the gasket of your fridge
Using a clean and dry microfiber cloth or washcloth…
Wipe the rubber seal you cleaned so you can remove any excess moisture from it.
And once it’s all nice and dry…
Step 5: Apply petroleum jelly to the rubber seal
Coat your gasket with a thin layer of vaseline. Doing so can help the rubber seal close your fridge’s doors tightly.
Now, while you’re doing this step…
You should also check if your gasket has any holes or tears.
“I don’t see any damage on the rubber seal.”
Then after applying the coat, you can simply close your fridge’s doors again.
And after that, check if you can still hear the beeping sound.
However, if you find any sign of damage on the rubber seal…
You should replace your fridge’s gasket with the help of professionals. That’s because it’s likely the cause of the beeping sound you’re hearing.
#3: Its temperature is too high
The FDA is strict when it comes to the temperatures of refrigerators.
See, according to their guidelines:
- Freezers should have a temperature of 0°F (-18°C).
- Refrigerator temperatures should be at or below 40°F (4°C).
That said, most modern fridges are always programmed to hit these numbers.
And in instances that your refrigerator has a temperature higher than the standards…
You’ll hear a beeping sound as a warning signal that you should make your fridge colder.
So now, you should try to lower the temperature of your refrigerator.
Then, observe if the beeping problem persists.
Pro tip: I highly recommend grabbing a fridge thermometer to make this step easier. Because this will let you check the exact temperature inside your refrigerator. With that, you can always ensure that it’s within the FDA safety standards.
Further reading: 9 Things To Do When Your Smart Fridge Isn’t Cooling (DIY)
#4: There’s too much food inside your fridge
If you’ve lowered your fridge’s temperature yet it’s still beeping…
Then there might be too much food inside it.
See, refrigerators cool your food down through air circulation.
That said, if there’s not enough space for the air to pass through inside your fridge…
Your refrigerator will have a harder time reaching its ideal temperature.
And as a result, it’ll continuously beep because it can’t hit the 40°F mark or lower.
With that said, what you should do now is…
Remove half of your refrigerator’s stored content:
Step 1: Fill a portable cooler with ice.
Step 2: Remove half of your fridge’s goods.
Then place them inside the cooler you prepared in the previous step.
Step 3: Set a timer for 30 minutes.
Step 4: Observe if your fridge is still beeping within that time frame.
Now, if the beeping stopped when you removed some of your refrigerator’s load…
Then that means it was previously too full to function properly.
That said, from here on, you should avoid filling your fridge to the brim.
And to help you do that…
Here are my personal tips to avoid overfilling your refrigerator:
- Have at least ½ inch in between the items inside your fridge.
- Don’t let any container or food touch the roof of your refrigerator.
- Shop more frequently to avoid buying too many groceries at once.
However, if this fix didn’t stop the beeping sound…
Return the food you removed earlier and move on to the next solution.
#5: Your refrigerator isn’t balanced
Fridges can only function to their full potential when standing on a leveled surface.
That said, if you can still hear any buzzing or beeping noise…
Then that might be an indication that your fridge is currently off-balance.
Fortunately, though, it’s effortless to check if this is the problem. And likewise, it’s just as easy to solve.
With that in mind, follow these simple steps to…
Ensure that your fridge is balanced:
Step 1: Place a torpedo level at the top of your refrigerator
Now, this is a beginner-friendly tool.
But if you haven’t used it before…
I recommend checking this short video that explains what a torpedo level is and how it works:
Note: Ensure that you’re placing it in a way that measures the vertical alignment of the surface.
Step 2: Ensure that the torpedo level’s air bubble is at the center of its lines
If it is, simply skip to the next solution.
But if it’s not, then you should check underneath your fridge.
And see if anything’s causing it to be unbalanced.
That said, remove any obstructions if needed.
Or you may also have to readjust the legs of your refrigerator to keep it leveled.
Step 3: Check if your fridge is still beeping
After balancing your refrigerator…
Observe it for the next 15 minutes.
If you can still hear the beeping from your fridge, then it’s possible that…
#6: There’s too much frost in its freezer
Some fridge models automatically thaw their freezers by themselves.
But others will keep frosting until you manually defrost it.
And if your fridge is part of the latter group…
Then there might be too much frost in its freezer now. So your appliance is beeping to inform you that you need to thaw its ice.
That said, check your freezer compartment and see if it has any frost buildup.
If it doesn’t, skip to the next fix.
But if it does, follow along with this solution.
With that said, here are the simple steps to…
Defrost your refrigerator’s freezer:
- Place thick rugs and towels under your fridge.
- Unplug your refrigerator from its power source.
- Remove the food inside the freezer compartment.
- Place the frozen goods into a cooler filled with ice.
- Keep the freezer’s door open.
- Place a fan near it to quickly thaw the ice.
- Wipe your freezer to clean and dry it.
- Plug your fridge into its power source again.
Note: Let your freezer cool for at least 2 hours before returning your frozen goods inside it.
#7: It’s glitching
Your refrigerator may also beep if there are simple glitches in its system.
But fret not. It’s pretty easy to…
Reset your fridge to stop it from glitching:
- Unplug your refrigerator from its power source.
- Wait for 10 minutes.
- Plug your fridge into the outlet again.
Once your refrigerator boots up…
Observe it for the next 30 minutes and check if it’s still beeping.
You might also want to know: 7 Steps To Reset Your LG Refrigerator In 19 Seconds
Bonus: Some of its components are malfunctioning
The previous reasons were pretty easy to fix by yourself.
However, if malfunctioning hardware fridge components are causing this beeping sound…
Then it’s time to ask for the assistance of professionals.
That said, if your fridge is still under warranty…
I highly recommend contacting the official service centers of its company.
However, if your appliance is no longer under its protection plan…
You may contact local technicians around you instead.
That’s because they usually charge less than official service centers do.