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I recently had to replace my refrigerator (broken and beyond repair). The new fridge is fairly noisy--not surprising, but still disappointing. A quick check of the AA archives shows that this is a common complaint, a problem without a ready solution. Because I have an older kitchen with limited space, I'm just not able to get one of the nicer, larger units that seem to have a better handle on noise control. I'm stuck with a smaller, more modest (hence noisier) machine.
Since my listening room opens up to the kitchen, the refrigerator is a distraction when it's running. So I'm thinking about turning the fridge off during serious listening sessions. The danger, of course, is that I'll forget to turn it back on at the end of the evening. If I can deal with that risk, would you see this as the best solution to the problem? Have you come up with better solutions? Thanks for any input you can provide.
A closing observation: in the past the dishwasher was easily the noisiest appliance in the kitchen. These days, most dishwashers are practically silent, but refrigerators make more of a racket than previous generations. What gives?
Follow Ups:
OK, just a suggestion.
Buy an icebox.
I lived in an apartment years ago with the kitchen right behind my central listening position. I would indeed turn off the fridge for listening sessions. The hum of that fridge would destroy low level listening enough to drive me crazy. Just turned it off for an hour or two. Cheap solution.
I think you may benefit from looking inside (I assume the bottom where the compressor is) while it's running to try and locate what is vibrating then introduce some dampening rubber.
My guess is that as companies are cutting costs more and more, newer mid to low level appliances don't get the same treatments that they got 20 years ago.... that's the 90's folks.
My 1992 vintage stove gave up the ghost recently and the same trim level stove was a complete piece of garbage compared to the tank it was replacing. I had to spend over a grand to get the same level of quality.
I think that an afternoon or two spent poking around under there may show where some sound deadening material can make a world of improvement. Just be careful you don't electrocute yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8VHFsaf3YE
:)
Nt
Plug an inexpensive timer into the wall. Plug the frig into the timer. Set the timer for the expected time of your listening session. The timer will switch the frig back on in case you forget.
Supplyhouse.com sells vibration absorption blocks that can be placed under your fridge's feet. I would start with part# MP-4E, but they have many sizes. The good news is that they only cost $1.85ea. I use part# MP-2E under all my components. They work good and look great! Maplehade sells their "ISOBLOCS" for $25 for 4. These are only .49 cents and have more absorption than the Isoblocs. There are many good reviews. Many plumbers/electricians use these to quiet Noisy household appliances.
Never had it replaced.
And once you realise the amount of pollution the fridge is putting into your power grid, it will be very hard to plug it back on again.
ice cream?
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
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With no refrigeration, you could be living on beef jerky, smoked meats. Clearly nothing which needs to be kept cold.
Though it also means you eat fresh.. Or do not care if the food is spoiled.
Curious as to what is your diet with no possible refrigeration?
A lot of gong out to eat? daily trips to the food market?
My two systems are in the basement of our house, and the auxiliary/TV rig has the unfortunate location of being directly UNDER the fridge. Because we don't have very much clearance above and around the fridge, putting isolators of some sort under it has proved impossible. So you can imagine the kinds of vibration I get in that location when the motor is running. But because I really don't listen critically to that system, it's not a deal-breaker. If the fridge were above my reference rig, THAT would be a major problem that would piss me off to no end.
When I want to watch a Blu-Ray or do something in the second system that requires my full attention, I turn the fridge off. My wife would kill me if she knew I did it, but you guys aren't telling, right? :)
If you have clearance above and around your refrigerator, I suggest taking some of the advice in this thread with regards to damping. It certainly can't hurt, I think. If all else fails, just turn the bloody thing off while you're doing critical listening. I wrote a permanent note telling myself to turn the fridge back on, so when I turn it off, I just put that note out on my desk to remind me.
The culprit on my noisy fridge was the ice maker. If you have one of them you should disconnect it. Now mine is so quiet I can't even tell it is on.
Yeah, I have mine turned off, as well as the water dispenser thing. Who needs ice? Who needs cold water? They just ruin the real stuff.Another potential noise factor is these fridges never need defrosting, that might be part of what they're (noisily) doing every so often.
Another aspect is modern fridges tend to have a much larger freezer section. That's bound to account for a bit more operation too.
Edits: 05/18/16
Yeah, the modern fridges are well-insulated for temperature, but not so much for noise. I'm going to guess that they use much "cheaper" running gear, judging by how long people report modern fridges (don't!) last, compared to the old ones that run until you get tired of how ugly they are.
Also the cooling systems seem to have a lot of different "modes", it sounds like they're doing things sometimes, gurgling etc. things, that I assume are part of their energy efficiency regime i.e. much more complicated control systems than old fridges. It's almost like they're *always* doing something, whereas with old friges you hear them run for a while, then they're silent. The new fridges make their presence audibly noticeable much more of the time.
Yes, you can unplug the fridge, if you can easily reach the plug, I don't think you can actually turn a new one off per se. I also have forgotten to plug the fridge back in. They are well-insulated...so you have a fair time to remember, even overnight before a problem. I suggest setting one of those timers from the $ store or on your phone etc. to remind you.
I installed a door to the kitchen, mine is also beside the listening room, as the final part of my room treatment. Surprisingly, you don't need much to block a lot of the sound (though I really did it to block the echo/reflections from the open kitchen).
OK, I exaggerate a bit re the "always noisy" thing, perhaps if there weren't "things" in the fridge I access while using the system it would be quieter...
The problem is the surfaces all around a fridge are hard reflective ones. covering them with sound absorbing material really helps. Temporary stuff if you live in a rented space. permanent ones if own. Even try corrugated cardboard as an experment around the back and sides. (does the back have cooling coils? My latest fridge does NOT have any.
Rubber pads, foam pads. fabric folded up.. The UNDER the fridge is a real help. Getting the fridge feet up on rubber pads too.
Also adding a RFI block, like a ferrite clamp on the fridge power cord also can help quiet the fridge. Do not ask how it works, just I found it did help a little.
The biggest single help were the pads under the fridge feet.My fridge is in an open kitchen connected behind my listening space and open, so the sound is right there.
If your fridge freezer is empty, FILL IT full with water bottles. I reused empty ones and just tap water. A whole case of them plus. (I actually stuck 24 bottles back into the plastic bag they came in) I do not keep a lot of frozen food. just a few pizza. So the freezer full does two things, dampens the whole fridge, and lowers the electric bill. A full freezer is less costly than an empty one for electric usage (this is a proven fact).Does your fridge have cooling coils on back? or none? My latest has none. I guess it is efficient enough it does not need any external coils. This makes it easier to pack the back with dampening stuff.
Also angle the fridge so it is not flat to the sides and back. usually there is at least a few inches total space around the fridge. The angling helps cut the noise. as the angled reflections change the vibrations a little.If you have a direct line of sight from listening room to fridge, a screen in front of the fridge might help. I do not use one. but it would be better with it. Plenty of Chinese/Japanese folding screens around to see if any might be right. Cheap handmade wood frame with a blanket to see if it helps before buying an expensive one.
Edits: 05/18/16
Yep Ive kept as much frozen water bottles that would fit for a long time. Great post.
ET
aa
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
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