The refrigerator is a very crucial kitchen appliance and plays a very important role in our homes. However, the noises that it creates can be very troublesome sometimes and can often hamper your concentration and focus while at home.
A refrigerator consists of many components that work together to maintain its efficiency.
The different parts working together often make noises. Every part has a contribution to the overall noise that is being created. These noises can be fixed by implementing a few simple methods that are easy and give you the desired results.
What Refrigerator Parts Can Make Noise?
Compressor
Compressor motor pumps refrigerant through the system to cool the fridge. If the temperature inside of your fridge starts to rise, a sensor tells the compressor motor to start.
If the compressor has any problem, you will likely need a professional to investigate it.
Condenser fan motor
Newer model fridges are more likely to have a condenser fan to cool the condenser coil. Sometimes, when the fridge is excessively loud, it’s most likely the condenser fan motor that is to be blamed.
There are three parts of a fridge – the condenser fan, compressor, and evaporator motor that runs simultaneously. This makes it very difficult to point out a single one as the source of the problem.
Look into the condenser fan and the motor properly and if there is a lot of wear or damage you may need to replace it. If not, clean them properly and make sure no dirt or anything is clogging it and this works.
Evaporator fan motor
If you notice that your fridge is getting too warm or the ice does not freeze as quickly as it usually does, it may be the evaporator fan motor.
This component also makes a lot of noise that seems to originate from the freezer. It forces air over the evaporator coils and runs with a condenser fan and compressor making it even difficult to pinpoint the main source of the problem.
If you notice under the evaporator fan cover, the motor is iced over, it can cause problems. Allow it to melt and that can help solve your noise problem.
Evaporator fan motor grommet
Evaporator fan motor grommet decouples the evaporator fan from the rest of the fridge to reduce vibrations. It can be located under the evaporator fan cover.
A worn-out grommet can cause a lot of noise. Replace the grommet to see if it lessens your noise problems.
Water/Ice dispenser
The ice dispenser in a freezer fills with water and allows it to freeze into ice cubes. The whole tray then dumps into the ice holder once it’s frozen.
The bottom snaps close and the tray once again refills with water to repeat the whole process.
This continues until the ice compartment is full or you manually switch off the ice maker.
Drip tray
Condensation inside your fridge and freezer collects water on the walls that run down to the bottom. It gets collected at the back of the fridge in the drip tray to evaporate eventually. This process occurs slowly and constantly while your fridge is already running.
How To Stop Refrigerator From Buzzing?
- Eliminate floor vibrations – Uneven flooring can be a reason for the rattling of your fridge. If the fridge legs are not sitting on an even floor, vibration and noise can be felt from a distance.
Make sure that the fridge is sitting on an even floor. If your fridge has adjustable legs check them and set them on the same level.
Try to check regularly to ensure that the fridge legs are set right. Shake your fridge a few times and see if it moves. If it does, set the legs and adjust them again accordingly.
You can also place thick rubber mats under the fridge if the floor is not the problem. These will absorb the vibrations and reduce the overall noise caused by the fridge.
There are many mats called anti-vibration mats which would also be very useful in this case. For guaranteed quiet, you can use both the rubber mat and anti-vibration pads.
Anti-vibration mats and general mats are made with fridges in home appliances in mind. You can check these out for a proper solution to the rattling of your fridge.
- Dirty fans and compressor – Fridges need to be regularly maintained. Dirt and dust on the compressor or the fans can be the main cause of noise in your fridge.
Make sure to clean these parts regularly to take care of your problem. Clean all the different parts of the fridge as a part of the general maintenance.
When all the parts are well taken care of, the fridge runs efficiently. Routine maintenance can help reduce the problem.
However, taking care of a fridge is a very delicate process and should be handled by a well-skilled person. Have a professional check out all the parts and advise you to replace the ones that are damaged.
You might have to replace your condenser which is an expensive affair and it’s not such an economical decision in the long run. If the condenser is worn out, you might need to consider getting a new fridge.
- Use acoustic foam- Often the noise comes from the compressor coils that are typically located behind the fridge. If this is the problem the options are very limited.
However, you can shift the attention to the wall behind it to bring positive results. Acoustic forms can be great for this purpose as they will absorb the noise produced by the fridge. If properly installed these forms can eliminate fridge noises by 50 to 90%.
Attach these foams to the wall right behind your fridge and ensure that the back of the fridge is close to the insulated wall for maximum noise absorption.
Be careful not to cover the compressor coils as that can cause the fridge to overheat. This will make the fridge overwork and the compressor will be damaged after some time.
- Make a wooden enclosure for your fridge – You can build an encasement to place your fridge. Leaving the back open, you can cover the other sides and place acoustic foam panels on the wall behind it.
This will address the fridge noises from all the corners. With the fridge enclosed, there are very few chances of the noise bouncing around in the room.
For even more enhanced sound reduction, you can soundproof the fridge enclosure as well.
With the right tools and materials, making a fridge housing should be pretty easy. You can also get custom-made closure at a local wood store.
- Soundproof your fridge from the inside- This may not address the underlying issue directly but this method can also bring some noticeable changes.
You can use mass-loaded vinyl to soundproof the fridge interiors. Although this should be the last option to consider as adding such stuff inside the fridge is not very hygienic.
Soundproofing just the inside may not be enough and you may also need to cover the motor with mass-loaded vinyl as well.
Turn off your fridge and allow some time to defrost. Clean the fridge thoroughly and remove all the shelves before installing the material. Make sure the fridge is completely dry when you are installing the material.
When done installing, put back all the things you had inside of your fridge and turn it on again to see how it works.
- Fill the fridge – We all know that empty fridges are much noisier. An empty fridge is unstable and keeps turning on and off. This causes the fridge to buzz.
When a fridge is full, it runs consistently as it is taking care of more items. Filling the fridge with food all the time does not only make your home quieter but also saves a lot of energy bills. You can also use empty bottles filled with water to store inside your fridge to fill it.
- Move your fridge – In some cases no matter how much you try, the noise from your fridge will still be noticeable.
In such a case, change the position of your fridge to an area where it does not bother you.
You can shift your fridge to your kitchen if you have enough space and then you will not have to deal with the constant noise in all the other rooms.
- Use white noise – If the rest of the remedies don’t work, you can use this temporary method to get rid of the noise.
You can try to get a white noise machine or use melodies that can cancel out the rattling noise coming from your fridge. If changing the fridge is not an option, this method can be ideal.
Read more posts from Indoor Category: How To Soundproof A Window Cheap?
Conclusion
It is very normal for a fridge to make a minimal amount of noise. The various components that help in keeping the things inside the fridge cool, generally make a little bit of noise.
Carefully analyse all the components to see which part is the source of the noise. This will help you shortlist the different methods you can apply to lessen that noise.
If you notice that the noises coming from your fridge have increased a lot, you can refer to the above-recommended methods on how to stop it from buzzing. You can consult with a professional if you don’t know what the problem with your fridge is and if you realize it is beyond repair, it is advisable to invest in a new fridge.