Refrigerators are supposed to preserve your fresh food and fruits with minimum fuss. In most cases, refrigerators operate in silence or with a low hum at the worst. However, there are some cases where a fridge might make noises that could be seriously annoying.
Some easy things to do if your refrigerator is making noise are to make sure your drain pan is centered, your condenser fan is clean, and the items in your fridge aren’t knocking together and causing the noise. For harder-to-diagnose noises, try using anti-vibration mats or sound-dampening pads.
There are several reasons your refrigerator is noisy. Here, we review those causes and also look at some quiet refrigerators you can buy if it’s time to just get a new one.
Why Is Your Refrigerator Running So Loud?
There are a few reasons why your refrigerator might be making so much noise while it’s running. Some of them are easy to fix while others require a technician. Let’s examine some of them.
Drain Pan
The drain pan is one of the most common culprits of unusual refrigerator noise, especially rattling sounds. The problem typically arises when you move the fridge and the pan shifts from its normal position. It’s also possible to accidentally shift the drain pan when you’re cleaning your fridge.
When the drain pan isn’t in the position it’s supposed to be in, it tends to rattle while the fridge is running. This rattling causes the irritating noise you hear.
The fix to this is easy. If the drain pan is off-center, simply shift it back into position and you’ll be good to go.
Condenser Fan
If the problem isn’t with the drain pan, check the condenser fan. When you hear a squealing, loud humming, or grinding sound from the back of your refrigerator, it’s likely coming from the condenser fan.
The condenser fan’s job is to cool the fridge’s condenser coils. When it picks up dust or dirt, it makes noise.
If you notice the noise is coming from the fan, simply clean both the fan and the condenser, and that should solve the problem.
Rattling Inside the Refrigerator
The arrangement of items in your fridge could also be causing the noise. When you notice a rattling sound from inside the refrigerator, and you’re sure the evaporator fan isn’t causing it, check the placement of your drinks and food.
If the items placed in the fridge are close to the air vents or tightly pressed against the sides of the refrigerator in an upright position, a rattling sound might occur.
If that’s the case, simply rearrange the items, especially the glass bottles and jars. Ensure that they aren’t close to the vents to avoid rattling.
Evaporator Fan
It’s easy to confuse the noise generated from the evaporator fan with noise from the condenser fan. After all, they sound the same and come from almost the exact location. However, the tell-tale sign to know which fan the noise is coming from is to open the fridge.
The evaporator fan sends cool air from the freezer to the refrigerator part of the unit. If it’s the source of the noise, the noise becomes louder when you open the fridge. If it’s the condenser fan, the noise remains the same.
Unfortunately, if your evaporator fan is what’s making the noise, it means the problem is more complicated. You can’t fix this sound by just cleaning the evaporator fan. Fixing the problem might involve changing the fan blades.
Floor Surface
Another primary reason for refrigerator noise is that the floor underneath it might be uneven or loose. It might not seem like it, but the flooring you place your refrigerator on is a strong determinant for whether it will produce noise or not.
Refrigerators vibrate while they work. If placed on a loose or uneven surface, the vibrations create noise. Wherever you want to put your refrigerator, check whether the floor surface is even or firm enough.
If it isn’t, and there’s no other better location to place the refrigerator, get an anti-vibration mat. The mat acts as a vibration absorber and reduces the noise due to vibration.
How to Quiet a Loud Refrigerator?
We have discussed the possible causes of a noisy refrigerator. In some cases, fixing the cause of the noise isn’t enough to eliminate it. There are also times when you can’t identify the source of the noise. Here are some tips for those cases.
Use Anti-Vibration Mats to Reduce or Eliminate Refrigerator Vibration Noise
Anti-vibration mats reduce floor vibrations produced by the fridge by creating a little space between the floor and the refrigerator. Even when a fridge is working normally, it vibrates. When it shakes on the floor, it could cause loud noises.
Anti-vibration mats dampen the refrigerator’s vibrations, thereby reducing the noise produced. Anti-vibration mats are so effective that they can reduce vibrations between fifty and sixty percent.
While it is simple to apply the mat to the base of your fridge, you must consider the nature of your floor. If the floor’s surface is smooth and slippery, get a thick mat. If otherwise, an ordinary mat will do.
Clean Compressor and Fans to Reduce Drip Noise
Another easy way to reduce the noise your refrigerator makes is to clean its vital components regularly. The good thing about regularly cleaning fridge parts like the compressor and various fans is that it not only helps reduce noise, it also elongates the life of the refrigerator itself.
The compressor, fans, and other refrigerator parts need regular cleaning. Cleaning doesn’t involve washing. Use a damp cloth that removes the dirt. Removal of dirt eases the movement of parts and eliminates noise.
Cleaning your fridge inside out is a great and cheap way to reduce refrigerator noise.
Use Refrigerator Sound-Dampening Pads
Sound-dampening pads are similar to anti-vibration mats because they go under your fridge and reduce the noise it makes. The difference is that while an anti-vibration mat will cover the whole fridge, you put the sound dampening pad at the foot of the refrigerator.
While the sound dampening pad works (not as well as the anti-vibration mat), it is just a short-term solution. It doesn’t work for more than six to seven months.
If you are looking for a longer-lasting solution to refrigerator noise, sound-dampening pads aren’t for you. There are other options on this list that offer a more permanent solution.
Construct A Wooden Housing for Your Refrigerator
Building wooden structures for your fridge not only helps to reduce the noise produced it also serves as a form of the exoskeleton to protect the refrigerator itself. Wooden houses are pretty easy to make, simple in design, and are not complicated to use.
The wooden housing doesn’t have to cover the whole fridge. We advise it doesn’t cover all parts of the refrigerator, especially the parts that need ventilation. Instead of wooden bars on the side, you could consider using curtains.
Another great thing about wooden housing is that it hides the refrigerator. When you can’t see it, you might not even notice it’s making noise.
Constructing a rigid housing for your fridge can be a DIY project for you. If you aren’t certain you have the skills, get a carpenter.
Change The Location of Your Refrigerator
Changing the location of your refrigerator helps reduce the noise in the immediate vicinity but does little else. Usually, when the fridge believes that the noise has defied all solutions, they consider relocating the refrigerator.
There are a few things to consider when relocating your refrigerator—putting the fridge in a smaller room than it previously will make the noise louder. Another thing to consider is whether the new location is within reach of children.
Changing the refrigerator’s location means the noise is farther away. You don’t have to endure a noisy fridge every time you are in the kitchen.
Don’t Run Your Refrigerator On Your Low Temperatures.
Yes, your refrigerators should keep things cold, but running them at low temperatures for a sustained period could damage them. Industrial refrigerators can run at low temperatures longer than domestic ones.
Running your domestic refrigerators at low temperatures for a while produces various sounds that could be pretty irritating. The first is a sizzling sound that happens when water drips from the cooling chamber and evaporates.
Another annoying sound that you hear when running your fridge at low temperatures is shrinking and expanding the inner fridge walls. For most of the time, run your refrigerator at an average temperature.
Call A Fridge Expert
There are times when there’s still no solution to the noise problem despite all the hacks. It is time to call in the expert when you get to this stage. Usually, when a refrigerator produces a loud sound, it is because there’s something wrong.
Only a refrigerator technician or expert can correctly identify the source of the noise at this point and tell you what to do to correct it. Bear in mind that this expertise usually comes with a fee. Still, you know that you are getting professional advice on stopping the noise. Before a refrigerator expert, check their previous work and review from former clients.
Get A New Refrigerator
Getting a new refrigerator is an option of last resort. When other suggestions don’t work, and the fridge defies all solutions, it might be time to get a new one. Fortunately, several refrigerator brands pride themselves on running as quietly as possible.
Look for one of these types of fridges. It might cost a little more, but please get it if it falls within your budget. These quiet refrigerator noises have found a way to reduce compressor noise.
The compressor is the part of your refrigerator that produces most of the noise or sound associated with the fridge.
Install Intake Silencer
Installing a silencer at the intake of your refrigerator’s compressor goes a long way in reducing the noise produced by the compressor and the fridge. An expert typically carries out the installation. So unless you have the expertise, don’t try it yourself.
The intake silencer comprises two parts; the air filter and the silencing device. The silencer works to use a pipe to increase the length of your intake outside the house.
The silencer outside means most of the noise isn’t in the room. It is essential that for this to work, you need enough space.
Soundproof Your Refrigerator from The Inside
Another great way of reducing refrigerator noise is by soundproofing your refrigerator from within. The most readily available material for soundproofing is mass-loaded vinyl. The easiest way to soundproof is to stuff the mass-loaded vinyl around the refrigerator’s motor.
When you do this, you cut down on the noise generated by the refrigerator. Another way of soundproofing is to use vinyl to line the wall around the fridge. The lined walls act as a dampener.
Another way is to place a thin sheet of mass-loaded vinyl under the refrigerator. That way, no noise escapes from the fridge.
FAQs on How to Quiet a Noisy Fridge
This section answers some frequently asked questions on noise fridges produce, quiet fridges, and average noise level for refrigerators.
Are New Refrigerators Noisier?
No, there aren’t. By design, newer refrigerators produce less noise than older ones. If the newer fridges are the quiet type, they even less noise.
What Is the Quietest Running Fridge?
The quietest running fridges are the French door refrigerators. Find a list below.
Frigidaire Gallery Stainless French Door Refrigerator (on Amazon)
One of the quietest refrigerators on the market. Its vast size means it takes a lot of your food and other items. Lovely stainless body and finish. The only frequently reported problem is with the ice maker.
Thor Kitchen Cabinet Depth French Door with Ice Maker (on Amazon)
This refrigerator boasts plenty of space, excellent cooling capacity, a good ice maker, and two freezer drawers like the Frigidaire. Added to all these qualities is its stainless body with a polished finish. Did we forget to add that it runs quietly? It is an excellent buy if you are need a quiet fridge.
Kenmore Side-by-Side Refrigerator and Freezer (on Amazon)
The thirty-six-inch side-by-side comes in black, white, and stainless-steel colors. It has a total capacity of 25 cubic feet and an electronic lock.
Fisher Paykel Counter Depth French Door Fridge (on Amazon)
It is available in stainless steel has a total capacity of 20.1 cubic feet. It has an inverter, Energy Star certification, and runs quietly.
Bosch 800 Series 36 in. 26 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator (on Amazon)
An intelligent refrigerator with a massive internal capacity, low energy consumption, French door, and quiet running.
KitchenAid 25.8 cubic feet 5-Door French Door Refrigerator (on Amazon)
The KitchenAid fridge/freezer combo is another example of a quiet refrigerator. It has an adequate capacity, two drawers for the freezer, and an ice maker. e.
Haier 4-Door Bottom Freezer Refrigerator (on Amazon)
Haier comes with this stainless fridge with a freezer at the bottom. It doesn’t have an inverter but has an Energy Star certification.
How Loud Should My Refrigerator Be?
The usual noise range for refrigerators falls between 32 to 47 decibels. If it’s a quiet fridge, its noise range is lower than forty decibels.
Why Does My Refrigerator Sound Like a Jackhammer?
There are three things that can make your refrigerator begin to sound like a jackhammer. The first reason is a faulty water case assembly. Another suspect is likely a problematic water line valve or a loose plastic pipe. You can find the water pipe at the back of the fridge.
Finally, your fridge makes jackhammer noises because the evaporator fan repeatedly hits the ice buildup.
Conclusion
You don’t have to endure the racket regularly produced by your refrigerator. With these simple, sometimes cheap tips, you can get rid of all unnecessary. When you carry out regular cleaning and routine maintenance on your refrigerator, it helps prolong its lifespan.
If you have tried all these tips on your fridge, and the noise problem persists, then we think it’s best to get a new fridge. Please pick one from the ten quietest we have listed, and enjoy a refrigerator that offers silence and efficient performance.