How to Stop Refrigerator from Buzzing: 8 Simple DIY Fixes

In this guide, you will learn different DIY hacks on how to stop refrigerator from buzzing.

But, if this doesn’t sound like something you’d undertake or simply don’t have time to invest in these DIY hacks, then why not check out this guide I wrote on some of the quietest mini-refrigerators on the market.

Nothing is annoying, like the sound of a buzzing refrigerator. While this kitchen appliance plays a crucial role in our homes, the noises they create can deny you a peaceful relaxation in your home after a busy at the office.

Materials required for this DIY project:

• Philips Screwdriver
• Hair dryer
• Soft wire brush

Below are some of the best and proven techniques on how to make your fridge quieter.

• Eliminate floor vibrations
• Clean the Fans and Compressor
• Use Acoustic Foam
• Make a wooden enclosure for your fridge.
• Soundproof your fridge from the inside
• Fill the Fridge
• Move your fridge
• Inspect the Door and the handle
• Use White Noise
• Inspect Water Line to Ice Maker
• Align the Drip Fan

1. Eliminate floor vibrations

Your fridge will often vibrate if it is not correctly positioned. If the fridge legs are sitting on an uneven floor, vibration and noise can be felt from a distance.

Check the floor and ensure that the area the fridge is sitting on is even. Also, check the legs in case they are adjustable and set them at the same level. You should regularly check the fridge legs to ensure that they are set right.

Give your fridge a rattle every few months, and if it moves, it may be time to set the legs and adjust them accordingly. If the floor is not the problem, you can place thick rubber mats under the fridge.

These will help absorb vibrations and reduce overall noise. Ant-vibration mats would also be perfect.

For enhanced quiet, you can use both the rubber mat and anti-vibration pads. There are anti-vibration mats and general mats made with fridges and home appliances in mind. Check these out and go for the option that matches your needs.

2. Clean the Fans and Compressor

Regular maintenance can take care of your problem. Dirt and dust on the compressor and fans are the main cause of noise in your fridge. Cleaning these two parts will help take care of this problem.

Cleaning different parts of the fridge should be part of general maintenance. The fridge runs efficiently when all parts are well taken care of, and any defective parts replaced.

Even if dirt isn’t the reason your fridge is noisy, you will notice that your fridge will be much quieter after routine maintenance. Unless you are well skilled in fridge maintenance, you may need to engage a professional in this case.

Taking the fridge apart is a delicate process, and a well-skilled person should be involved. Take this chance and have a professional check out any parts that need to be replaced.

This method can bring considerable change, especially if yours is an old fridge. If the condenser is worn out, you need to start making plans to get a new fridge. Replacing a condenser is an expensive affair, and it doesn’t make economic sense in the long run.

3. Use Acoustic Foam

The compressor coils are typically located behind the fridge, and if this is where the noise is coming from, your options are limited.

However, shifting the attention to the wall behind it may bring positive results. Acoustic foams are great for absorbing the noise produced by the fridge. When installed right, these foams can eliminate fridge related noises by 50-90%.

Installing the foams is easy, and all you have to do is attach then on the wall behind your fridge. Ensure that the back of the fridge is close to the insulated wall for optimal noise absorption. Here are some other uses of acoustic foam treatment.

You have to be careful not to cover the compressor coils as this can cause the fridge to overheat. This will consequently overwork the fridge, and the compressor will break after some time.

4. Make a wooden enclosure for your fridge.

Build an encasement where you can place your fridge. Just ensure that not all sides are covered for ventilation purposes.

You can leave the back open and then place acoustic foam panels on the wall behind it. This way, the fridge noise will be addressed from all corners.

When the fridge is enclosed, there will be fewer chances of the noise bouncing around in the room. For enhanced performance, you can soundproof the fridge enclosure as well. Making your fridge housing should be easy if you have the right tools and materials.

If you are not great at DIY, you can get one custom made at the local wood store.

5. Soundproof your fridge from the inside

This method will bring some noticeable changes even though it doesn’t address the underlying issue.

It should also be the last option you consider as adding things inside the fridge isn’t very hygienic. Use Mass Loaded Vinyl to soundproof the fridge interiors. Cover all available spaces with it and see if this brings the change you are looking for.

Soundproofing the inside may not be adequate, and you may need to cover the motor with the Mass Loaded Vinyl as well. To complete this step, first, turn off your fridge and allow enough time to defrost.

Give the fridge a thorough clean after and remove all shelves before installing the soundproofing material. The fridge should be completely dry when you are installing the soundproofing material.

6. Fill the Fridge

It is no secret that empty fridges are much noisier. This happens because an empty fridge is unstable and will keep turning on and off. When a fridge is full, it will run consistently since it is taking care of more items.

Fill your fridge with food at all times, and you will not only enjoy a quieter home, but you will also save a considerable amount of energy bills.

If you cannot fill your fridge with food for whatever reason, get empty bottles, fill them with water, and use them to fill the fridge. The drop in the noise coming from your fridge will be noticeable.

7. Move your fridge

You may find that no matter your efforts, the noise coming from your fridge is still noticeable.

If you have placed your fridge next to your sitting or bedroom wall, consider moving it to an area where you can’t hear it from the other room. If you have enough space in your kitchen, let the fridge stay there so you will only hear the hum when you are in this room.

8. Inspect the Door and the handle

The mini refrigerator door or door handle becoming loose is one of the most common causes of buzzing sounds. Over the duration of a refrigerator’s lifespan, the screws that keep the door in place might loosen and or fall out as a result of repeated opening and closing.

While the buzzing sound is occurs, open the refrigerator door and lift the handle slightly. If the buzz noise ceases, the problem is a loose door, which may be fixed by tightening its screws.

Check the screws keeping the door handle in place and the screws connecting the door’s hinges to the fridge.

9. Use White Noise

This is a temporary remedy, but it is worth considering if all else fails. Get a white noise machine and use melodies that cancel out the buzzing coming from your fridge. This method is ideal if changing the fridge placement is not an option.

However, you may still want to consider moving to a house with enough space for the kitchen or investing in a quieter fridge.

• Mini Fridge Makes Popping Noise: Causes and Possible Quick Fixes
• Quietest Mini Fridge for Bedroom, Dorm Room and Man Cave
• Samsung Refrigerator Making Noise Like an Owl

10. Inspect Water Line to Ice Maker

Sometimes, a buzzing ice maker can be caused by a shortage of sufficient supply of water in the ice maker.

If the noise persists even after a making ice, inspect that the water connection to your fridge is working and open and inspect the valve, the freezer running dry can ruin the ice maker to a point it requires replacement.

In most cases the waterline connection is often found under the sink in the kitchen, and branches off from the water supply to the kitchen sink. Open the valve by hand and subsequently increase the water supply.

11. Align  the Drip Fan

One of the most often overlooked tasks in refrigerator maintenance is aligning the drip pan. The drip pan is located under the fridge and catches any water that may leak from the unit.

If the buzzing sound is from from the bottom of the refrigerator, the drip pan may have shifted. The drip pan can come into touch with the fridge and transmit its vibrations if even a tiny amount of movement occurs.

Align the drip pan to ensure that there is sufficient distance on every side to avoid it from coming into contact with the refrigerator.

Why is my mini fridge so loud?

Mini refrigerators are particularly noisy due to the specific technology they use. The fan in thermoelectric small refrigerators runs continuously, whereas compressor mini refrigerators are noisy owing to their mechanical operations, excessive vibration, loose components, and loud evaporator fan.

Typically, thermo-electric & compressor mini refrigerators are loud, although some models are much quieter. The sound level and nature of the noises are related to the condition of the refrigerator.

Final Thoughts

Above are the best and most recommended methods on how to stop refrigerator from buzzing.

However, you should note that all refrigerators make noises, and it’s almost impossible to sound insulate the noises entirely.

Even your quiet refrigerator can be quite annoying, especially when you need total silence.

If you’re not sure what’s the problem with your refrigerator, then I’d recommend you consult with a professional.

References:

• https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2066&context=icec
• https://manufacturedhomepartsandaccessories.com/why-are-mini-fridges-so-loud/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQtsULVfZYU
• https://flamingoappliance.com/refrigerator-repair/how-to-clean-refrigerator-condenser-coils/
• https://www.chatfieldcourt.com/kitchen-reno-diy-refrigerator-cabinet/