A refrigerator is a great appliance to have in the kitchen, but it can be quite noisy.
There are many reasons why your fridge might be making noise, and if you’re not sure what’s causing it then this post will help you figure out how to quiet a refrigerator.
Fridge noises are actually caused by a variety of factors such as ice build up and compressor vibrations. To keep your refrigerator running smoothly and silently, you’ll need to conduct some basic investigations to try and work out where the noise is coming from.
Top 10 tips to quieten your refrigerator
1. Be sure your fridge is level: Levelling the fridge can help to reduce some of the noise it might be making.
Noises are typically loudest at the back of the fridge, so if you’re able to adjust the feet then this may help. You could also try putting a shim under one side or corner if necessary.
2. Make sure there’s enough airflow: Adjusting the fridge door to allow for a little more airflow as well as being able to leave the door open slightly when not in use can help reduce noise.
3. Clean out excess ice build up : Check that your freezer compartment is clear of all ice and frost, this will help keep the fridge running efficiently, as well as reduce the amount of noise it makes.
4. Avoid using the auto-defrost function: Many modern refrigerators have an auto defrost feature, but this can be noisy.
You’re better off manually defrosting your fridge every couple of months to keep it running smoothly.
5. Make sure there’s nothing rubbing: If you notice a noise coming from the back of your fridge, check to see if there’s something pushing against the wall.
If so, then try to remove it and see if this helps reduce the noise.
6. Raise (or lower) the temperature setting : The compressor in your refrigerator works more efficiently at cooler temperatures, but a higher temperature setting will make the fridge quieter.
A lower temperature will mean you have to wait longer for your food to be cool, but it’ll also stop you getting distracted by the noise when you open the fridge door.
7. Get rid of unnecessary extras: If your fridge has added features such as an ice dispenser or water filter, these are usually the loudest parts of your fridge.
Removing them will help reduce the noise, so if you can do it safely then go ahead and get rid of them.
8. Replace the fan: If there is a large amount of noise coming from your fridge, especially at higher speeds then this can probably be traced to an issue with your fan.
Over time, fans can wear out and make more noise than they used to when they were new. If you’re not sure about doing this yourself then we would suggest getting a professional to help you with it.
9. Replace the compressor: Some refrigerators will give up the ghost after so many years of use, if yours is making a lot of noise then it may be time to replace the compressor.
You can do this yourself if you’re not too worried about working with electricity, but remember that you should always turn the power off and make sure there is no food left inside before taking apart your fridge.
10. Replace: If all else fails and none of these tips work to quieten your fridge, then you might be better off just replacing it.
Many people find that these days a noisy refrigerator is harder and harder to get used to, so if this is the case for you then go ahead and invest in an appliance that’s quieter and more efficient.
Try a refrigerator noise reduction kit
If none of the above does the trick, you can try using a refrigerator noise reduction kit.
These are insulation pads and similar materials that attach to your fridge to reduce the amount of noise.
They act as a sound deadening device so, they don’t stop the noises that your fridge makes but absorb the sound, making the surroundings much quieter and pleasant.
Is a noisy fridge dangerous?
In general, a noisy refrigerator is more of an annoyance than a danger.
Most fridges make some form of noise from clicking to buzzing and some vibration. In most cases it is not dangerous for a fridge to make some form of noise.
Final Words
There are lots of different factors involved in making a refrigerator quiet, so even if you’ve tried out all of the above tricks and your refrigerator is still making a lot of noise, you may want to just replace it.
If you end up replacing yours because of noise then remember that there are lots of different makes and models on the market these days all of which will offer their own advantages such as sound levels and energy consumption.
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