A noisy refrigerator can be very distracting. It can put you in an embarrassing situation in front of guests. It can also distract you from falling asleep at night. You may not notice the noise coming from your refrigerator during the daytime. But the noise is much more apparent at night as there is no background sound to suppress the noise coming from the refrigerator.
Your refrigerator can produce noise for many reasons. But the main reason for making such noise is vibration. So, in order to stop the fridge from making noise, the best course of action would be to take the necessary steps for noise reduction.
In this article, we will discuss the techniques by following which you can stop your refrigerator from buzzing.
1. Use Soundproof Floor Mats
As mentioned before, your fridge makes unwanted noise because of the vibration produced by its internal components. Your refrigerator can vibrate because of having a faulty compressor. It can also vibrate if the refrigerator legs are not properly balanced. Soundproof floor mats can help to eradicate this problem.
Soundproof mats are a type of dense thick material that is able to absorb all kinds of vibrations because of having rubbery and elastic construction. Installing a soundproof mat under the refrigerator all by yourself can be troublesome. That is why attempt this solution with another pair of helping hands.
At first, gently lift the fridge. Then, slide in the soundproof floor mat under the fridge. You can secure the floor mat with the floor by using double-sided tape or by using non-flammable glue. After doing so, gently put the refrigerator down.
2. Construct A Wooden Enclosure
If you are annoyed about your freezer making noise, then you should definitely invest in constructing a wooden enclosure for your freezer. The wooden enclosure will confine any unwanted noise that your refrigerator makes and will help to keep the noise down. The enclosure will isolate all noise and vibrations produced by your freezer.
Constructing a wooden enclosure is not an easy task. Especially if you want to do it all by yourself. But if you have great carpentering skills, then this can be a handy project for you. And if you do not have such skills, then take the measurement of your refrigerator and seek the help of a professional carpenter.
3. Clean The Condenser Fan And Its Surroundings
The condenser fan is a very important part of the refrigerator. It helps to keep the condenser of the refrigerator cool. The fan can suck up a lot of dust because of its constant spin. Especially if you live in a dusty environment. The specks of dust accumulated by the fan can play a vital role in the refrigerator making loud noises.
Cleaning the condenser fan can be a tricky task. The best way to clean the fan is by using a vacuum cleaner. At first, make sure to cut the power to the refrigerator. After that, take your vacuum cleaner and clean the fan. Do not forget to clean the surroundings of the fan as well. Make sure to wear a mask before attempting this method.
4. Use Soundproof Panels
The majority of the noise from the refrigerator comes from the rear side. If you keep the refrigerator against a wall, then the noise issue can get even worse. Sound waves coming from the rear of your fridge can bounce back from the wall, and spread to other parts of your house. A soundproof panel can solve this issue with ease.
A soundproof panel or an acoustic panel is a product that is able to absorb unwanted noises. It is able to stop sound waves from bouncing wall to wall because of having a soft and sound-absorbent surface. Installing a soundproof panel is very easy as well.
You can use double-sided tape or heat-resistant glue for the installation process. Make sure to install the panel on the rear side of the refrigerator. Especially the rear bottom side of the freezer where the condenser fan and the compressor are situated.
5. Soundproof The Insides Of Your Freezer
This is a more extreme solution to the freezer noise elimination problem. This method involves using soundproof materials on the inside of your refrigerator. You can use MLV (Mass Loaded Vinyl) for this purpose. Only attempt this process if the technique mentioned above, that is if soundproofing mats did not work for you.
Start by powering off your refrigerator and emptying the freezer. After that, take out any food trays or drawers and place them aside. Carefully attach the MLV with the internal walls of the freezer.
Make sure not to block any sensors and mounting points for the trays and drawers while installing the MLV. Select odorless and temperature resistant MLV as you will be using them inside the freezer.
6. Inspect for Any Loose Parts
If you are thinking, “Why my refrigerator is making a buzzing noise?” then, the answer to that problem would be because of having loose parts. The refrigerator can contain a huge number of parts. They can be both moving and static parts. Over the course of its lifespan, many parts can get loose, producing unwanted noises.
Start by inspecting the refrigerator externally. Watch out for loose handles and side panels. Properly examine the freezer stand for any cracks. On the inside, check out for any loose trays and drawers. The best way to tackle this problem is by sending the refrigerator to professionals for a complete overhaul.
7. Balance The Refrigerator Legs
It is possible for your refrigerator to make unwanted noises because of having unbalanced legs. You can determine whether your freezer has unbalanced legs or not by applying force on it. If the refrigerator moves upon application of force, then you are certainly dealing with unbalanced refrigerator legs. This problem can be solved easily.
Most modern refrigerators these days come with adjustable legs. Lift up one side of the refrigerator and rotate the legs for a proper adjustment. You will need the help of another person for lifting up the refrigerator. Repeat the process on all four sides until you perfectly balance the refrigerator.
You can also put your freezer on a stand if you don’t want to go through the trouble of balancing the legs. Modern freezer stands come with an easier balancing method for properly balancing the refrigerator. You can find a freezer stand in any refrigerator shop. Make sure to buy the stand that matches the model of your refrigerator.
8. Allow For Proper Ventilation
Lack of ventilation can definitely help a refrigerator to produce excessive noise. A refrigerator generally uses its surrounding air for keeping the insides cool. Lack of ventilation can hinder the airflow of the refrigerator. And lack of airflow can make the refrigerator warm. A warm refrigerator also has a much shorter lifespan.
The fan inside of a warm refrigerator needs to work much harder in order to keep the appliance cool. Because of having a faster spinning fan, more noise is produced by the refrigerator. Therefore, always try to keep the refrigerator in a ventilated place. Make sure to keep a gap of more than one inch between the wall and the refrigerator.
9. Fill The Refrigerator
You may not believe it, but an empty refrigerator can produce a lot more noise than a fully stocked refrigerator. The main reason behind this is the way how modern refrigerators operate.
Modern refrigerators are built to maintain the utmost efficiency. They can also sense the amount of food stored inside of them. As a result, in order to maintain maximum efficiency, empty refrigerators will constantly turn the compressor on and off. This action of the compressor produces a lot of unwanted noise.
Therefore, always try to keep your refrigerator fully stocked. If you are not able to fill the refrigerator up with foods, try to fill it up by storing water bottles instead.
10. Change The Refrigerator
If you have tried all the above techniques and find your fridge making a loud noise, it may be time to change the refrigerator. As mentioned before, a freezer can make noises for many reasons. Though most of the problems are fixable, there are many problems that are not economical to fix.
For example, it is not economical to fix a bad compressor because a replacement compressor can cost as much as a new basic refrigerator. But if you find your new refrigerator that is still under warranty making excessive noise, then immediately replace it with a new one.
Conclusion
A dirty refrigerator can also produce excessive noise. So, always keep the insides and the outsides of the refrigerator clean. Furthermore, a faulty evaporator fan can also cause the refrigerator to produce more noise. A roach or rodent-infested refrigerator can run very loud as well.
Always maintain maximum safety while working on electrical appliances such as refrigerators. Disconnect the refrigerator from all power sources while working on it. Don’t forget to turn the power off while cleaning the insides of the refrigerator as well.
