How to Quiet a Noisy Refrigerator (11 Ways)

Figure 1: Working principle diagram of direct cool refrigerator.

Many families will encounter such a problem, that is, the refrigerator makes a "humming" harsh noise during use. This noise may affect the family's rest at night, resulting in a decline in learning and work efficiency. So in the face of the noise from the refrigerator, what can we do to solve it?

1. Where is the Refrigerator Noise Come From

To reduce the noise of the refrigerator, we must first analyze what causes the noise of the refrigerator.

1.1 Too Close to the Wall

The first reason is that the back of the refrigerator is too close to the wall. It will easily cause the refrigerator to resonate, and will increase the small sound of the compressor and turn it into noise. It is relatively easy to solve, and you only need to place the refrigerator 5 cm or more away from the wall.

1.2 Uneven Ground

The second is that the place where the refrigerator stands is uneven, which will easily cause noise. You only need to put gaskets on the bottom of the refrigerator, or directly adjust the height of the screws at the bottom of the refrigerator so that the four feet can touch the ground.

1.3 Items Placed on the Refrigerator

The third is that many families now like to place items on the refrigerator, but this action will cause the refrigerator motor to resonate with the items on the top and make noise when it is working. The solution is also very simple, and just remove the items on top of the refrigerator.

Figure 2: A man is cleaning the refrigerator door seal.

1.4 Some Foreign Object Fell into the Refrigerator

The fourth is that foreign objects have fallen into the refrigerator, such as some scattered things, candies, melon seeds, bottle caps, etc. Check to see if the holes in the refrigerator are blocked by these, and if so, clean them.

1.5 U-Shaped Exhaust Pipe Resonance

Generally, the refrigerator compressor will make some noise when it is working normally. But if the refrigerator is constantly making noise, or if the noise is too loud, there may be an exhaust problem.

First of all, judge whether the noise from the refrigerator is "sizzling" or "humming". If it is humming noise, it usually comes from the U-shaped exhaust pipe connected to the refrigerator compressor. Its function is to convey the high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the refrigerator compressor to the condenser.
So when the compressor in the refrigerator works, this exhaust pipe will produce a certain resonance phenomenon, resulting in a "humming" noise. You can fix the U-shaped tube with a rope or tape, which can basically eliminate the noise caused by resonance.

1.6 Blockage in the Refrigeration System

In another case, if the noise is a "sizzling" sound, it is generally a blockage fault in the refrigeration system, and there is a problem with the circulation of the refrigerant in the refrigeration pipeline of the refrigerator. At this time, it is necessary to contact professional after-sales personnel to troubleshoot and solve the problem.

Figure 3: Refrigerator refrigeration piping system diagram.

1.7 Compressor Failure

If you have ruled out the reasons mentioned above, but the refrigerator noise is still not eliminated or reduced, then you need to conduct a deeper investigation, because there may be a problem with the refrigerator compressor. It is necessary to contact a special inspection personnel. If it is confirmed that there is a problem with the compressor, then the compressor needs to be replaced.

2. How to Make Your Home Refrigerator Quieter (11 Ways)

Figure 4: Annoying buzzing produced by a refrigerator.

2.1 Adjust the Leveling Feet of Refrigerator

The refrigerator should be placed on a flat and firm place on the ground. Make the four corners of the bottom of the refrigerator on a plane to achieve balance. Usually refrigerators produced by manufacturers have their own four-leg adjustment balance knobs at the bottom, which can be adjusted and fixed until the noise is minimized. If there is no balance adjustment knob device, you can add rubber pads under the feet of the refrigerator to achieve balance and minimize noise.

2.2 Place Rubber Mats for the Supporting Feet

Do not let the supporting feet of the refrigerator directly contact the hard ground or ceramic tiles. Place a piece of hard rubber under the supporting feet of the refrigerator, such as old cloth, not too thick, preferably not more than 6 mm.
Properly raising the four corners of the refrigerator (3-6 cm) can also increase the air convection space at the bottom. In this way, the noise of the compressor and other noises from the lower part can come out from the bottom, which reduces the noise from both sides and the upper part of the refrigerator.

Figure 5: A person is testing the noise level of a refrigerator with an instrument.

2.3 Remove Items Placed on Top of Refrigerator (if it has)

The refrigerator and the items placed on top of it will resonate and emit noise when the motor is started. Moving the items on the top of the refrigerator can make it not resonate, and the noise will naturally be eliminated.

2.4 Let the refrigerator form a certain inclination with the wall

After making the back of the refrigerator and the wall form a certain inclination angle (1-3 degrees), one side opening of the refrigerator is large, and the other is small, showing a trumpet shape. The larger side emits more noise and should face the object; the smaller side emits less noise and should face the human activity area.

2.5 Nail the Sound Absorbing Cardboard Along the Wall

Stick sound-absorbing materials such as glass fiber cotton on the cardboard, and then nail the cardboard to the wall behind the refrigerator (compressor side). The cardboard should be 10cm-20cm larger than the back side of the refrigerator.

Figure 6: Glass fiber cotton.

2.6 Securely Install the Accessories

In the freezer and cold room of the refrigerator, the manufacturer provides users with accessories such as ice boxes, layered networks, drawers, etc., which should be installed firmly at a certain position.

2.7 Check the Connection between the Pipeline and the Refrigerator

It is necessary to check whether the connection and reinforcement part between the outer pipe and the refrigerator is loose, so as to avoid resonance when the compressor is working. Therefore, the outer pipe must be fixed, and the bolts must be equipped with spring washers to prevent loosening.

2.8 Use Rubber Sleeves to Suppress the Vibration of the Pipe

If the refrigerator is noisy during use, it is advisable to take waste bicycle tires and cut them into a circular shape with a diameter of 30 mm. Then cut out a round hole with a diameter of about 5 mm in the middle of these circular pieces, and then cut it from the outside to the center so that the rubber can be attached to the pipe.

When the refrigerator compressor is running, touch the tubes with your hands and feel whether there is shaking with tubes. Put a few of these rubber on any tubes that have a shaking. A refrigerator needs to be set with 10-20 pieces, and the noise will be reduced immediately. This is because the rubber dampens the "resonance" produced by the vibrating tubes.

Figure 7: Pipes of refrigerator compressor.

2.9 Check Whether the Radiating Pipe Suffers from Deformation

If the noise suddenly increases after moving the refrigerator, it may be because the radiating pipe on the back has been squeezed and deformed.

When the refrigerator is just starting up, touch the radiating pipe on the back with your hand (be careful not to touch it after the refrigerator has been on for a long time, because it will be hot), and where the vibration is strong, there is the source of noise. Secure the vibrating radiating pipe and the stable one together with electrical tape. Fix it at intervals, and generally fixing two or three places can greatly reduce the noise.

Figure 8: Embraco refrigerator compressor and its base.

2.11 Repair or Replace Compressor

The noise still does not decrease when you press the top of the compressor by hand. Usually, the noise is caused by the excessive gap between the piston and the cylinder inside the compressor. At this time, the compressor should be replaced.

In addition, when the refrigerator door is not opened, and you stand about 3 meters away from the refrigerator, and hear the sound of boiling or discontinuous "chucking" obviously, which means that the refrigeration pipeline is faulty. If the compressor is aging or malfunctioning, please ask a professional to replace it.

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