A refrigerator running in the background makes a quiet hum most people don’t even notice. It’s only when your Whirlpool refrigerator runs loud that you begin to take notice of the sound. You shouldn’t be overly aware of your refrigerator operating. If you are cued in on unusual noises or loud sounds coming from your fridge, then you may want to investigate the drain pan, water inlet valve, fan motors, and these other potential causes.