How to make refrigerators quiet

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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,145
    edited November 2009
    Have you located the source of the hum? Shims can work wonders, you know.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • iskandam
    iskandam Posts: 704
    edited November 2009
    Are we talking about the PC or the fridge now? And what are shims?
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,145
    edited November 2009
    Fridge. Shims are.....

    shims.jpg

    or

    degree%2520shims.jpg
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited November 2009
    How about an "New" used Frig?


    CL anyone?

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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,200
    edited November 2009
    From the look of the back of that thing, I'm convinced it's new refrigerator time, and as others have mentioned, it will pay for itself over time. You're likely to be running around like a cat chasing it's tail if you try to just "fix" this, with not much chance of succes.

    When we moved in last year, we bought a used refrigerator on craigslist.org, which worked fine for a year until we bought a new one in July. Some friends are still using the craigslist refrigerator. Just stay away from the cheapest ones available (they're probably in the same shape as your own, or worse), and take the back off to check for cockroaches before bringing it into the house (use the opportunity to thoroughly clean it too).

    JMO. YMMV. Good luck!
    Alea jacta est!
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited November 2009
    Dynamat extreme, just saying.....
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  • devani
    devani Posts: 1,497
    edited November 2009
    I would get a new one as well unless you intend to sell the place soon....make a rolling curtain so that curtain covers frig and roll it up when you want access...
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  • iskandam
    iskandam Posts: 704
    edited November 2009
    that looks really solid. Fridge design has come a long way in 16 years...
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  • louhamilton
    louhamilton Posts: 209
    edited November 2009
    iskandam wrote: »
    It's pretty tight back there so a 2" thick panel is not a realistic solution for me. But if the Silent Feet is not good enough by itself I may stick several layers of Fat Mat/roofing felt/B-Quiet/eDead/etc. on the wall directly behind the compressor and fan to absorb the noise.

    That having been said, I'm also planning on putting a DIY acoustic panel behind the TV/rack/center channel to cover the first reflection from the center channel!
    ben62670 wrote: »
    I have used peel and seal for deadening with decent success.

    I would also consider some acoustical dampening ceiling tiles. You could even paint them the same color as the wall. Plus, they are less than 2" thick, too.
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  • timw902834
    timw902834 Posts: 6
    edited December 2009
    HHStuart wrote: »
    Refrigerator noise bothers me too but in this case I would replace the refrigerator.
    New refrigerators are so much more efficient than 16 year old ones, that it would pay for itself in a couple of years. The new one would be a lot quieter. Just my 2 cents.

    New refrigerators are not that much more efficient than 15 y/o ones. Unless you meant (say) 20+ years for a $1000 fridge when you said "it would pay for itself in a couple of years", you're way off base. :p

    As for the noise level, new refrigerators have horrible whiny "high efficiency" compressors that run more often compared to my 15 y/o KitchenAid that I replaced last year. At least that was true for the $1300 LG (SxS), $1800 Samsung (french door), and $1600 GE (SxS) models I tried. I do not believe there is any such thing as a "silent refrigerator", or even one that comes remotely close to a poor approximation of silence. In fact, if I could have gotten a new one as quiet as my old KitchenAid, I'd have been delighted. Apparently, even that is not possible these days.
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  • iskandam
    iskandam Posts: 704
    edited December 2009
    After considering all the options, there is a high possibility that we might replace the old timer next month... so hopefully the replacement will be more quiet
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  • jdwmap
    jdwmap Posts: 116
    edited December 2009
    I am leaning towards improper magnet placement, you might try moving them to the sides instead of all loaded up on the front like that.
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  • yohoexpo
    yohoexpo Posts: 2
    edited April 2010
    You can buy a new one. it works better,we use a lot of fridges when expo opens.normally,the plug does not cater,or line gets wrong,when a fridge worked for a long time,it muight get sucked time from time.
    www.yohoexpo.net
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  • iskandam
    iskandam Posts: 704
    edited April 2010
    so I got the Silent Feet several months ago but they didn't help at all. Then I tried sticking one of my DIY acoustic panels right behind the fridge. No dice.

    Replaced the old fridge with a newer GE model... it turned out to be just as loud as the old one. I might move it to the garage as soon as I clear out some space for it. I have so much crap in there I'm gonna have to set aside some time to do it.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited April 2010
    The compressor resonates the entire frame, even with rubber feet and if you want to dampen it, you're going to have to remove it, or really get some solid underneath access and do so. It won't make it silent but Sorbothane type isolators on the legs and a body blanket will help with some db levels. I've used the old style Audioquest feet(modified) and a Dynamat wrap to quell the noise issues in a couple installs.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,387
    edited April 2010
    Time for Plinth my 'frig.

    Peel and seal works great for washer and dryer cabinets too or even duct work to quiet the HVAC.
    Stan

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  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,622
    edited April 2010
    My apartment sized fridge in my man cave drives me nuts. It a newer Avanti, nice fridge and uses very lttle energy, but the compressor is loud. I had it replaced and the replacement was just as loud. I put it on a programmable timer to run only when I know I won't be around and that has worked pretty good so far.
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  • doctorcilantro
    doctorcilantro Posts: 2,028
    edited May 2010
    This is what I was going to suggest, some absorbers. You have that cavity behind the fridge and it is a very undamped, live space. You could try some Fatmat somewhere down there if you have some flat pieces of metal on that compressor housing you could apply it to.
    LessisNevermore wrote: »
    Apples to oranges comparison here, but it might be food for thought:

    I installed 2 large computer-type cooling fans on the back of my entertainment center. They ended up being quite loud, and the cabinet itself acts as a resonator, and amplifies this a bit. When I built my diy acoustic panels, I put a 2'x4' panel mounted horizontal behind the tv. I was surprised how well it absorbs the fan noise! I will be looking for some quieter fans, but for now, it's completely tolerable.

    If you have enough clearance behind your fridge, I'd order a panel,(or make one) and give it a shot.
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  • doctorcilantro
    doctorcilantro Posts: 2,028
    edited May 2010
    QFT. New fridge at our house last year, and I could hear the fridge from the living room, which granted, wasn't very far away. Thing cost over 1K new and they just don't design them to be ultra-quiet imo.
    timw902834 wrote: »
    New refrigerators are not that much more efficient than 15 y/o ones. Unless you meant (say) 20+ years for a $1000 fridge when you said "it would pay for itself in a couple of years", you're way off base. :p

    As for the noise level, new refrigerators have horrible whiny "high efficiency" compressors that run more often compared to my 15 y/o KitchenAid that I replaced last year. At least that was true for the $1300 LG (SxS), $1800 Samsung (french door), and $1600 GE (SxS) models I tried. I do not believe there is any such thing as a "silent refrigerator", or even one that comes remotely close to a poor approximation of silence. In fact, if I could have gotten a new one as quiet as my old KitchenAid, I'd have been delighted. Apparently, even that is not possible these days.
    For Sale 2019:
    Tortuga Audio LDR passive preamp
    Decware EL34 amp
    Allnic H-1201 phono
    Zu Union Cubes
    iFi iDSD DAC, .5m UBS, iFI Gemini cable, Oyaide Tunami XLR 1.3M, Oyaide Tunami Speaker wire 1.5M, Beyerdynamic DT1990 headphones, PS Audio P3 power center

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  • anhchungdoan
    anhchungdoan Posts: 760
    edited May 2010
    jimmydep wrote: »
    Time for a refridgerator upgrade if you ask me.

    +1. Go for the Side by Side with E-star. The top and bottom mount fridge is not very energy effiency . Ask Barrack, he will agree with me and so is Pelosi.

    Think wood isolation feet from Mapleshades if you do not want upgrading the ice box.
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