Refrigerator doors should not self-close unless they have a specific mechanism to do so ... a gravity or spring-loaded cam or some such.

For those that don't, many people purposely adjust the leveling so the unit leans back a little to entice the doors to close but technically that is not correct. Refrigerators should be properly leveled so the defrost condensate fully drains on the designed path ... although a very slight backward lean normally doesn't cause a problem.

Was the unit installed completely level? Sounds like it might not have been. My built-in KA swings ever-so-gently closed if it I leave it slightly more than half way shut.

Has the noise level gotten better for you?

Thanks for your responses!

I placed a level on top of the fridge, and it's ever so slightly leaning forward (higher in the back). So, when the tech comes out to calibrate my range, I'll ask him to make it a teeny bit higher in the front.

Breezy, you're very kind. No noise improvement yet, but I'm trying to adjust to it. If it's still grating on me in another week or so, I'm going to consider the major surgery of a compressor change. I wish I wasn't so sensitive to things like this, but that whining noise is really unnerving, lol!

Sorry the noise isn't better. I'm very noise sensitive also. Our old fridge bothered me, but not as much as the GE unit in our temporary housing during our whole house reno. I knew I needed a quiet one with our new, open kitchen. I'm so glad my BI KA is almost silent. I know I would lose my mind with another loud fridge in our layout!!

Good luck with a remedy, in whatever form.

My fridge door is not self close nor was the 15 year old one it replaced. If properly installed, I do believe the doors should stay where put. Proper installation and leveling of your model should be detailed in the instruction manual. I would check that to see what is says on how your particular model should be installed.

I've never seen a spring-loaded door on a fridge. But, and we discussed this some months ago, older fridges recommended that they be installed leaning backwards a bit not only so that the doors would close but also so that the condensate from defrosting would drain down the back. Newer fridges don't seem to recommend this any more. The Samsung and LG FD instructions I've seen want the unit to be level left/right and front/back.

Interesting topic. My old fridges stayed open for a while, especially at about the 90-degree angle, but a little hip movement and they would close. Loved that, or just was used to it. It's taken me forever (years) to get used to the fact that a slight push to the door doesn't urge the door to gain momentum in that direction. Fridges like to beep at me.

My SZ's door neutral point is around 90 degrees. Smaller angles tend to close on their own, larger tend to open.

kas

We are almost finished with our remodel, but the Liebherr fridge/freezer are mostly in place. The model we got, SB24i1 (Link to web site) has the "soft close" doors on it just like on a kitchen cabinet. So far I can open it to about 30-40 degree's open and it stays there and doesn't shut, but once past there or if I give it a little push it will close itself slowly.

We love the soft-close feature, it is one of the things that sold us on this brand over SZ.

Phil

I have a Frigidaire all-fridge and the door will close itself if it's open 45-60 degrees. More than that and it usually stays open. It also depends on how items are stored on the door. I try to put heavier/larger items like milk and juice closer to the hinge with lighter/smaller things farther out.

Thanks for the replies!

Phil, that sounds like a really nice feature. I'll keep it in mind for future fridge purchases.

JScout, do heavier items closer to the hinge make it close more readily, or stay open?

The appliance repairman tilted it back a bit by raising the front legs, so it's been a lot better.

Good question. I'm not sure. I do it that way mostly to protect the hinges. It's a physics thing where heavy things exert more force the farther out they are. Of course my wife is the total opposite and thinks heavy things should go closer to the outside so it would be "easier" to get at. I had her do an experiment where she held her purse in her hand with her arm fully extended. Then she slid her purse up to her biceps and compared the difference. She said the purse felt lighter on the biceps. I'd chalk this up as one of those "it can't hurt" things.

Hi jscout,

Thanks for the response, that's very interesting. Yes, I agree, it certainly can't hurt.

The purse demo supports your case, but I have to admit, like your wife, my gallon jugs are on the end for convenience :-)