Is your refrigerator making buzzing noises all through the day and night, and even disrupting your sleep? If so, you’re not alone.
Fridge noise can be very disturbing. A few years ago, when my girlfriend moved in, we had a small, noisy fridge in our house that made sleeping extremely hard for us. We tried using earplugs to drown out the sound, but they were too uncomfortable.
At the time, we didn’t have enough money to buy a new fridge, so the only option we had was to find a way to fix the problem. It wasn’t easy at first, because neither of us knew anything about soundproofing, but we finally achieved our goal.
Now, I’m writing this article to teach you how to sound-dampen your own fridge, so you won’t have to spend a ton of money replacing it.
How to Reduce Refrigerator Noise: 6 Possible Strategies
1. Identify the Cause of the Noise and Fix it
The first thing you’ll need to do is identify the source of the noise by listening keenly for new noises or ones that don’t sound normal. You should keep in mind, however, that because refrigerators cycle on and off, you’ll always hear just a bit of sound coming from yours. If you near any odd noises, though, they may be caused by one of these three things below.
Vibration From the Floor
You should try your best to make the legs of your fridge rest evenly on the floor, as this will ensure that the fridge stays firmly in place without producing any unusual vibrations.
Another thing you can do is place a rubber mat underneath your fridge to reduce the vibrations and the overall noise level. You may need someone else to help you lift the fridge while you slide the mat underneath it. Regardless of whether you add it alone or in a pair, make sure that you measure the mat first to ensure that it fits perfectly.
An additional solution is to place anti-vibration pads under the fridge, which will reduce the amount of shaking and vibration and keep the fridge stable. For the best results possible, you should use both the rubber mat and the anti-vibration pads.
Loose Handles and Doors
This is another problem that will cause you to hear a rattling sound. Aside from door handles, door compartments can also make noise, by bouncing against the door due to loose screws. Fortunately, you can easily replace your fridge’s door handle, if needed, and use a regular screwdriver to tighten any screws that have come loose.
Compressor and Fan Noise
If a lot of disturbing noise is coming from your compressor and fan, they should probably be replaced.
If the annoying noise is coming from the fan only, you can simply replace it for an affordable price—just make sure the dimensions and the design of the fan you choose will suit your fridge before buying it. But if it’s the compressor that’s making noise, it’s probably a good idea to buy a whole new fridge.
2. Relocate Your Fridge and Use Acoustic Panels
Repositioning your fridge can sometimes make a big difference, and the best place to move it to is an alcove that you can easily cover with acoustic foam panels like these. These panels will help reduce the unwanted noise your fridge is making by a significant amount.
One of my neighbors tried this solution, and she couldn’t believe how effective it was. If you choose to use this soundproofing method, you can expect the amount of noise your fridge produces to be reduced by 60 to 80 percent.
3. Soundproof the Inside of Your Refrigerator
You can easily soundproof the inside of your fridge by using some Mass Loaded Vinyl, which has proven to be a great sound blocker and will stop noise from escaping out of the fridge. If you’re able to access your fridge’s motor, you can use a layer of Mass Loaded Vinyl to wrap it as well.
Instead of using acoustic foam panels, you can also place this vinyl right behind your fridge. Along the same lines, placing pieces of it underneath the fridge will help stop unwanted noise from escaping through the underside of the refrigerator and into your home.
4. Build a Wooden Case For Your Fridge
If you can’t relocate your fridge into an alcove, then you can try creating an artificial alcove. If you’re a handyman, you can simply do this as a DIY project, or if you don’t mind spending money, you may want to hire an expert to make things much easier for you. By building a wooden case for your fridge, you’ll be able to lower its noise level even further.
5. Buy a New Refrigerator
If you have the financial resources to do so, why not get yourself a new refrigerator that’s not as noisy? Newer refrigerators tend to have quieter compressors than older models, and if you’re not sure which one to choose, you may find this guide to the best quiet mini fridges to be helpful.
6. Hire an Expert
If you don’t have the time or skill to repair your refrigerator, and you don’t want to get a new one, hiring a professional to inspect and fix your current fridge may be the best option. The labor costs will depend on how bad the problem is, but most of the time, you won’t pay a lot.
Conclusion
There are lots of ways to soundproof your refrigerator, but I’ve found the methods listed above to be the most effective solutions. Having a fridge that is quiet and efficient is one of the best feelings, and if you follow the instructions above carefully, you may quickly get the peace and quiet from your refrigerator that you desire.
For more soundproofing tips that relate to the kitchen, check out my guide to reducing blender noise. If you have any questions about the article above or soundproofing in general, feel free to let us know by leaving a comment down below.
image 1: Pixabay; image 2: Kevin Malik