How To Quiet A Noisy Refrigerator Compressor 2024

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Having a noisy refrigerator can be quite draining. A soundproof environment is all we need for a healthy lifestyle. Imagine hearing all gurgling from the noisy refrigerator when the kids are slogging through the kitchen. The noise even beats your fridge and can be quite embarrassing if you have your guests over. So, this article helps you how to quiet a noisy refrigerator compressor?

What Is A Refrigerator Compressor?

The refrigerator compressor comprises a pump and motor that propels the refrigerant through a coil system. It receives the cold refrigerant gas from the evaporator and converts it into a liquid at high temperatures.

How Does A Refrigerator Compressor Work?

The compressor pumps the refrigerant into the coils generating high pressure which liquefies the refrigerant in a gaseous state. The compressor starts functioning as it receives signals from the temperature sensors. The liquified refrigerant now moves through the coils and reaches the valve to produce the cold mist you see in your refrigerator.

Here are 13 Easy And Effective Ways On How To Quiet A Noisy Refrigerator Compressor?

  1. Identify and Determining the source of noise
  2. Relocate or Reposition Your Fridge
  3. Use Anti-vibration Pads
  4. Place Foam Mats Under Your Refrigerator
  5. Put a Heavy Soundproofing Blanket or Rug Under Your Refrigerator
  6. Clean the Compressor and fans to Prevent Dripping Noise
  7. Solved Bad Refrigerator Compressor Noise
  8. Build a Sound Dampening Box or cabinet for Your Fridge
  9. Soundproof Your Fridge from Inside by mass loaded vinyl
  10. Construct A Wooden Housing To Place Your Refrigerator
  11. Fill the fridge with items
  12. Use white noises
  13. Clean your fridge regularly

How to Reduce Refrigerator Noise (Rattling, Buzzing, Gurgling)

Having a noisy refrigerator can be quite draining. A soundproof environment is all we need for a healthy lifestyle. Imagine hearing all gurgling from a noisy refrigerator when the kids stomp through the kitchen. The noise even beats your blender and can be quite embarrassing if you have your guests over.

Having a noisy refrigerator can be unavoidable, especially when it adds to insomnia. I know the buzzing sounds at night are bothering you. Don’t worry. It can be solved by taking into account some simple steps. If the noise is bugging your ears, you need to find its source and fix it.

How Do I Know My Refrigerator is Noisy?

A refrigerator normally generates roughly 32 to 47 decibels. If your refrigerator noise record falls in this range, you need not worry, but you must check it if higher decibels are recording.

According to research in Korea, the refrigerator’s noise range recorded in a living room was higher than the one recorded in an anechoic chamber.

How to Quiet A Noisy Refrigerator Compressor?

A compressor is usually located at the rear. It is advising that you examine the compressor if a grinding sound bugs your ears. Cleaning the coils is encouraging so that the dirt may not hamper its functioning.

Buy A Quieter Fridge

Are you investing all the money in repair parts? Did you try buying a new model?

Newer models of refrigerators are preferring over the older ones as they have a heat-protective mechanism. These are blessing with special heat shields to avoid accumulating hot gases. The older ones may have plastic that melts down due to the pressure of hot gases.

Effective Techniques to Reduce Refrigerator Noises

A wide variety of noises are hearing from the refrigerator. The ambiguity lies in how to differentiate the normal noise from the odd one. Here is the description of the noises recorded from the noisy refrigerator.

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1. Identify and Determining the source of noise

To rule out the noise,’ it is important to find where it is coming from.

  • The noise may come from the compressor. Efficient compressors’ if running too long may add to the noise, but it shows that the compressor is normally.
  • If you hear the vibration, it’s because you failed to find an even surface for your refrigerator.
  • A dripping noise may be due to the dribbling of the compressor oil. It is quite normal, though.
  • An unavoidable clicking may be experienced when water enters the ice maker due to the open valve. It is advising to switch off the ice maker in winters as you don’t need ice.
  • If it’s a whirring noise, you know something is wrong with the fan or its wings. You may look over the compressor for this.
  • The ice may melt to produce a gurgle, but that can be avoided as it is normal during defrosting.
  • The clattering noises if heard ‘are normal. These are being made as the ice cubes fall into storage boxes.
  • If you hear repetitive clicking’ know that it is normal. It is due to the evaporation valve that keeps checking on the temperature.
  • If you keep things above your refrigerator, they may produce some banging noises so take them off. Don’t keep empty vessels inside the refrigerator. They may also produce rattling noise.
  • Refrigerators may produce a popping sound when their walls alter their diameter due to temperature changes.

2. Relocate or Reposition Your Fridge

The refrigerator may be oddly vibrating because it has not been placed properly. To rule out the inescapable vibration noises’ check the floor and look for any uneven surface that may be interfering with the normal working of your refrigerator. Check if the legs of your refrigerator are evenly in contact with the floor. If it is not so’ you must move it to another suitable spot.

3. Use Anti-vibration Pads

Vibrating noises can be very irritating. To avoid them, I would suggest using anti-vibration mats. These are very easy to use and quite affordable. It is as easy as placing an order online and using the mat in no less than 5 minutes.

You need to put the mat underneath the fridge and let it do wonders. The anti-vibration pads will absorb all the unnecessary vibratory wavelengths and solve your problem. That is how you can overrule the vibrations.

4. Place Foam Mats Under Your Refrigerator

Thick rubber mats or foam mats are talking about a lot when it comes to noisy refrigerators. They can dampen the high-frequency sound wavelengths. Moreover, they can protect the floor from scratching. It would help if you placed it under your fridge. They are temperature and moisture resistant and may enhance the refrigerator’s functioning by absorbing moisture.

5. Put a Heavy Soundproofing Blanket or Rug Under Your Refrigerator

Ever since noisy appliances made their way to market soundproof blankets and mats are a trend. You can easily get your hands on a soundproof blanket. Fold it and place it under your fridge. It takes in all the noises before they reach your ear.

Best Soundproofing Blankets for Your Refrigerator

Soundproofing blankets are not only useful for noisy refrigerators but all noisy appliances. You can use them in the laundry room. What are you waiting for? Just place an order online and get rid of all the noise tormenting you.

6. Clean the Compressor and fans to Prevent Dripping Noise

Noisy refrigerators are a headache in quiet houses. Most of the time’ the culprit is the dirt clogged in the evaporator fan or the compressor. You need to check your refrigerator’s coil regularly. Inspect the compressor and the condenser fans. The general practice encouraged is to unplug the refrigerator and remove the access panel. As you reach the rear, clean all the parts.

7. Solved Bad Refrigerator Compressor Noise

A refrigerator consists of an evaporator fan motor and a condenser fan motor. If any of them is defective, it can produce inexorable noises. The malfunctioning condenser fan motor makes a grinding noise. You need to find the noise source and replace the evaporator fan motor with a new one. An adjustable wrench may be required to detach the motor from its mounting bracket and detach it. It would help if you unplugged the electric supply before making such adjustments

8. Build a Sound Dampening Box or cabinet for Your Fridge

If you’re looking for an effective way to kill all those refrigerator noises’ get yourself a wooden casing built. It can house the refrigerator quite well and dampen all the high amplitude sound waves inside. It may renovate your kitchen, as well. You must keep enough space between the wooden box and refrigerator to ensure proper ventilation.

9. Soundproof Your Fridge from Inside by mass loaded vinyl

Mass-loaded vinyl can be an affordable problem to your solution. It can be easily applied from inside the refrigerator and absorbs all the pestering noises from your refrigerator. It may serve as an alternative to Acoustic foams. It makes the refrigerator soundproof from the inside. Moreover, it is advising to apply it to the motor to dampen its noisy output.

10. Construct A Wooden Housing To Place Your Refrigerator

As science suggests that sound travels faster in the air than solids, we must apply it in our daily lives. Just like the wooden door keeps all the noises of a room inside, a wooden box is most likely to keep the refrigerator noise to its minimum. If you want to invest in something wiser, get a strong wooden encasement built for your noisy fridge. Don’t forget to leave enough space for the gases to evaporate.

11. Fill the fridge with items

A frequently used proverb suggests that empty vessels make the most noise. It is most likely that you hear weird rattling noise if you have empty glass containers in your refrigerator. Therefore it is advising that you must keep filled containers or bottles in your fridge.

12. Use white noises

A white noise machine may be a short-term solution to your inevitable problem. It may help you with your sleep but remember the fault lies still there. Its melodious functioning will throw cold water on the noises coming from the refrigerator

13. Clean your fridge regularly

The easiest solution to your problem is to clean your refrigerator. Check the icemaker if the ice cubes are already made you may need to take them out and clean the box before the ice cubes fall into the storage box and disrupt the normal functioning. It will prevent the gurgling noises produced by melting ice. Clean the fan blades and condenser coil if you hear a whirring noise.

Call the Professionals refrigerator Experts (Homeadvisor.com)

A compressor is the most important part of the refrigerator as it pumps the refrigerant through the evaporator coils. A worn-out compressor may call for technical help. Your last resort is calling an expert. If all the steps are futile, you must buy a new fridge as the new models have quieter compressors. It may take little agony from your life.

By some emergency tools for refrigerator Compressor

  1. 4-in-1 screwdriver
  2. Adjustable wrench
  3. Hair dryer
  4. Leveler
  5. Long brushes for cleaning
  6. Nut driver Sets
  7. Toilet vacuum cleaner brush

Final Words – How To Quiet A Noisy Refrigerator Compressor

In short’ to get rid of the noises, you need to understand the refrigerator’s functioning and the type of noise being producing. You may not know that generally, a refrigerator has an extensive coil system with refrigerant and oil flowing through it to ensure timely cooling.

The condenser fan motor blade may be damaged or has lost its agility over time. You must analyze all its parts and rule out minor defects and incorporate the mentioned steps to fix a noisy refrigerator. These steps will soothe all your nerves. I can vouch for that.

FAQs of How To Quiet A Noisy Refrigerator Compressor

Q1. How can I make my refrigerator compressor quieter?

If your compressor is making grinding noises, you must clean it with a cloth soaked in the diluted soapy solution. You must unplug the refrigerator before cleaning the compressor and let it dry before you switch the refrigerator on again. If the compressor loses control of its temperature and turns too hot, you must call for help.

Q2. Why is my fridge compressor so loud?

You are experiencing disturbing noises from the fan because of the faulty fan blades. The fan blades may strike the panel and make considerable noise. You must check if the blades can move freely against the panel or need replacement. You can know when to replace your water inlet valve. If your fridge is making a buzzing sound when the ice maker is filling know that the inlet valve needs replacement. Minerals may be deposited in the valve over time, and it demands the replacement of the valve.

Q3. Is a noisy fridge compressor dangerous?

It is advising that you examine the compressor if a grinding sound bugs your ears. Cleaning the coils is encourage so that the dirt may not hamper its functioning. If the compressor stops functioning, hot gases are strangulating through the coils and may cause an explosion.

Q4. Can a noisy fridge cause a fire?

Well, it’s not the noise that causes the fire, but the worn-out parts if not fixed, may bring out an alarming situation. The culprit to blame is the compressor. Compressors are usually located at the back of the fridge. Their function is to pump the refrigerant through the coils and liquify it to offer the cold temperature. At times the refrigerant fails to cool down and causes the coils to contract. The coils may accumulate hot gases. The resulting pressure of the gases may cause a fire.

Q5. How do I stop my fridge from making noise?

There are several steps to do so. You can opt for anti-vibration pads, acoustic foams, or mass loaded vinyl. You may get your fridge inside a wooden box to hamper the transmission of sound waves. Examine the inlet valve and condenser fan motor and see if they need replacement. Inspect the freezer compartment and see if the icebox is functioning properly. You need to replace the evaporator motor grommet in case of constant whirring.

Q6. Is it worth replacing a compressor in a refrigerator?

Suppose you own a refrigerator that is 12-15 years old. In that case, you should replace the appliance rather than investing in repair parts because compressors are half as expensive as the new refrigerators. If the compressor got burnt in the new refrigerator, then you must call the technician and get the compressor replaced.