How to Fix a Refrigerator Door That Pops When Opening & Closing

Tighten the hinges of the refrigerator door because loose hinges may cause the refrigerator to shift and pop as the door opens and closes. Depending upon the type of refrigerator, either use a wrench to tighten the bolts that connect the hinge to the refrigerator from the side of the unit or remove the hinge cover with a screwdriver and tighten the separate screws that hold the hinge to the door.

Apply a thin layer of silicone lubricant to the side of the refrigerator door where the hinges are located, rubbing the lubricant into the folds of the seal. Close the door of the refrigerator to see if the door closes and opens without sticking, then apply more lubricant if necessary.

Feel around the seal on the refrigerator door to make sure it fits tight all the way around. If you find any spots where the seal pulls away from the door, replace the door seal, which may be preventing the refrigerator from closing all the way.

Open the refrigerator door a few times once you tighten the hinges and check the seal to see if the popping has stopped. If not, watch the freezer door as you close the refrigerator door because the freezer door may be the source of the sound instead of the refrigerator door itself. This happens most frequently when slamming the refrigerator door, which causes a draft up through the refrigerator that can make the freezer door pop open.

Adjust the legs on the refrigerator so the front of the unit sits slightly higher than the back of the unit if the freezer door is the source of the popping. This allows the freezer to pop as normal when the refrigerator door closes but also to immediately close itself to keep foods inside cold.