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Soundproofing a Refrigerator
Author: Sturgeon Christie
Last Updated: February 9, 2024
Read Time: 7 Minutes
Soundproofing a Refrigerator
Author:
Sturgeon Christie
Last Updated:
February 9, 2024
Read Time:
7 Minutes
Author: Sturgeon Christie
Updated: Feb. 9, 2024
Read Time: 7 Minutes
Are you getting increasingly frustrated because you can’t hear your own thoughts over the constant buzzing of the refrigerator? Sometimes, the smallest things can become the bane of your existence. Before you take it to the dump, there are some easy ways to stop your irritating fridge from making noise. Read on to hear our solutions so that you and your kitchen can return to peace.
Are you getting increasingly frustrated because you can’t hear your own thoughts over the constant buzzing of the refrigerator? Sometimes, the smallest things can become the bane of your existence. Before you take it to the dump, there are some easy ways to stop your irritating fridge from making noise. Read on to hear our solutions so that you and your kitchen can return to peace.
Identifying the Noise
In any situation where you are soundproofing something, your first course of action is to determine whether this is a normal noise that needs to be soundproofed or if you have an issue that needs to be fixed by a technician. Assuming that there’s nothing mechanical a tech needs to fix, the next step is to identify the type of noise you are dealing with. The 2 types of noise we handle in soundproofing are structural and airborne noise. Typically, when refrigerators make a loud sound, it will be airborne noise, but it is not unheard of for structural noise to be the culprit.
Structural Noise
Structural noise will occur when the fridge is vibrating and makes contact with the hardwood or tile floor. The motor of the fridge has moving parts that can cause the entire appliance to vibrate. If your fridge is making excessive structural noise, it could be a sign that there is something wrong with your fridge and repairs are needed. If the vibrations are bothering neighbors, floor soundproofing is another option to consider.
Airborne Noise
When it comes to fridges, airborne noise is a more common issue than structural noise. The motor in the fridge can start to make louder sounds as it gets older. The noise can travel from behind or underneath the fridge, and without taking steps to reduce the sound, you will be coexisting with a very loud machine.
How to Soundproof a Refrigerator!
To have a soundproof fridge in your kitchen, you need to address both types of noise. For structural noise, you will need to isolate the sound by either applying vibration damping material close to the source of the noise or decoupling the fridge from the floor. There are a few methods to lower the amount of airborne noise that can be heard from your fridge. The solution boils down to the location of your fridge. Is it simply against a wall in your kitchen, or is it in an alcove surrounded by walls? A fridge located in an alcove has the potential to be much quieter because it’s easier to stop the sound waves from being sent into an open room. Here are the steps we recommend to soundproof a fridge:
Step 1: Use Damplifier Pro™ Deadening Mats
If most of the structural noise is coming from the motor in the fridge, we recommend installing Damplifier Pro as close as possible to the engine or air compressor on any vibrating metal components. By deadening the vibrations at the source, you will prevent the vibrations from transmitting to other parts of the fridge and reduce the noise.
You can place these on side of the fridge with the peel and stick adhesive. These are 2mm thick so they don't take up a lot of space. Still, with an alcove, it's possible you don't have the space. You could consider Damplifier, which is only 1mm thick.
Step 2: Use Rubber isolation Pads
It is also common for the vibrational noise in the fridge to be transmitted to the floor. Hard floors such as hardwood and tile will make a lot of noise if machinery is vibrating on them. The best solution for this is to place rubber isolation underneath the fridge to decouple the 2 hard surfaces.
Option #1: Sound Isolation Pads
Our Super W Sound Isolation Pads are an excellent way to decouple the floor from the fridge. You would want to get 4 medium or large pads to bear the weight of the fridge, being that refrigerators are 300lbs on average. If you need to put it in an alcove, a handy trick would be to use a rubber compatible glue or adhesive to put the pads on the bottom of the refrigerator and then place it inside with a jack or lift (or if you're crazyyy strong)!
Option #2: Sound Isolation Mat
An alternative to the isolation pads is The Stomp Mat™ sound isolation mat. Typically a gym mat (hence the name) it's perfect for decoupling the fridge and the floor. If you have an alcove, this is probably the easiest option. Most refrigerators come with wheels in the back. You can place the mat inside the alcove and place the back wheels on top, tilt the fridge and roll it in. Voilà!
Step 3: Clean out the motor and compressor
Refrigerators will usually make a lot of noise when their motors are getting old and need some maintenance. Before spending the time and money to install soundproofing materials, we recommend having a technician examine the refrigerator’s moving parts. If they need to be cleaned, that may be all it takes to reduce the amount of airborne noise the appliance is making. It’ll also improve the energy efficiency of the fridge.
If you’re going to try and do this yourself, make sure to unplug the fridge before cleaning it and do some research before to prevent damaging anything.
Step 4: Install acoustic materials around the Noisy fridge
Whether it is in an alcove or not, if your fridge is making an irritating noise, you can reduce the noise by adding sound absorbing materials on the walls behind or around the fridge. If have the space to put absorptive materials on the walls surrounding the fridge in an alcove, you’ll get the most sound reduction you can! Putting absorptive material behind the fridge is the most important location for preventing sound from reflecting off of the wall and back into the room the fridge is in.
GOOD NEWS! Because your refrigerator will block sight of the wall, you can use our extremely effective, budget acoustical material, CelluZorbe™, for this project. What it lacks in beauty (it's made from renewable and recycled fibers) it makes up for with a high NRC rating.
BETTER NEWS! We have a fridge soundproofing kit that will give you all the CelluZorbe™ you need, plus any P329 Spray Adhesive you need to adhere it to the wall, and it all comes at a special bundle and save price!
Refrigerator Soundproofing Against a Shared Wall
If you have a shared wall and you're wanting to absorb sound coming from behind you fridge and you want to block some sound from traveling to the ajoining room, we recommend using BlocknZorbe™ panels. BlocknZorbe™ is a really great option for soundproofing a fridge, because it does as the name suggests: blocks and absorbs. We always recommend the 2" thick version.
A Quiet Refrigerator is in Your Future!
The Second Skin Refrigerator Soundproofing Kit has everything you need quiet sound coming from the back of your noisy fridge. It's both simple to do and budget friendly. With this kit, you can expect a 20-40% perceived noise reduction. The only things we don't understand is why this isn't in your cart yet.
- Comes with all the P329 Spray adhesive needed
- Bundle + Save
- Free Shipping!
Now That you Have a Not-So-Noisy Fridge
We know how annoying a loud fridge can be. That’s why we provide the best materials to solve the issue. Whether you need to prevent vibrations from transmitting to your floor or absorb the loud sounds of the motor, we’ve got you covered! For a similar kitchen appliance, check out our article on soundproofing a dishwasher!
If you need any more advice on soundproofing your fridge or have any other questions for us, feel free to reach out. Even if you have a different home soundproofing project, like a soundproof kitchen sink, our soundproofing experts are always happy to help!