I have an Ariston combination fridge that's about 5 years old, and for roughly a week now it's been making this 'clonk clonk' noise every so often, especially when the compressor kicks in. The temperature inside stays normal and the food doesn't smell off, but it's got me a bit worried. Does anyone know if it's just the compressor aging or if I should call a technician?
It's not necessarily just wear and tear - sometimes those sharp banging noises happen when the compressor mounting bolts come loose a bit and all you need to do is tighten them again. Happened to my fridge: at one point it started with these 'clonk clonk' sounds right when it turned on, looked like it was done for, but after the tech checked it out it was just the bolts that had shifted and the repair cost basically nothing. That said, if everything's running fine and the temperature's holding steady, you can wait a week or two to see if it gets worse, but if the noise becomes more frequent or changes tone, better call someone out.
Refrigerators make weird noises as they age, especially the compressor which sometimes squeaks or makes sharp knocking sounds when it turns on and off. If the temperature is stable and the food doesn't smell off, it's probably not an imminent breakdown, but that regular "clonk clonk" could mean something's come loose inside (maybe the tubing vibrating) or the compressor is actually starting to give out. I'd give it another week of watching it, but if the noise gets worse or you start having cooling problems, you should call a technician before you end up with a dead fridge.
After 5 years it's pretty normal for the compressor to start making weird noises like sharp knocking sounds, especially if the temperature's holding up fine - most of the time it's just the mechanism getting older and it's nothing serious. But if the noise gets louder or more frequent over the next few days, or if you notice the temperature starting to rise, then yeah it's worth calling a technician, because it could be the start of an actual breakdown.
That clonking noise could really be loose screws like they say, but in my opinion before you take anything apart it's worth ruling out another possibility: sometimes the noise comes from the tubing in the refrigeration circuit vibrating against the fridge's frame when the compressor pumps the gas. If the temperature stays stable and you don't see any water leaks, I'd say you can relax for now, but if the noise gets more frequent or louder then yeah, call a technician to have it checked out. Five years isn't that long for an Ariston, and the fact that everything's working normally makes me think it's something minor.
What you're describing with the compressor making a "clonk" sound when it kicks on is pretty typical, especially after 5 years. In my case I had the same thing and it turned out to be a combination of two factors: the compressor itself starting to lose some elasticity in its internal suspension, and some vibration propagating through the fridge's structure.
Before calling a technician, try this: put your hand on the side or back of the fridge while it's making the noise and feel if it's vibrating irregularly or if the noise changes in intensity. If it's vibrating a lot, it might just be a matter of checking that the fridge is level on the floor (sometimes adjusting the leveling feet does the trick). In my opinion nobody's mentioned this detail and it often makes a real difference. Also check that there aren't any water or condensation tubes behind it touching the wall or the structure, because the noise amplifies easily that way.
If the temperature stays stable and your food is fine, the compressor is still doing its job. You could also try some vibration-damping tape (those foam ones you put under appliances) to muffle the noise without spending anything on repairs. I'd only call a technician if the noise starts getting louder or if you notice the temperature dropping, but for now it's nothing critical.
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