Managing sound of a refrigerator in a studio (i.e. in same space as sleeping area)?

Any advice?

Turn the fridge dial to the lowest to keep motor activity to a minimum?

It's a conventional under-the-counter fridge.

Is it remotely realistic to box that under counter space off with sound proofing foam?

Alternate is to move it out onto the corridor, but that would be super inconvenient when you're cooking etc.

........

Is the sound of a fridge something you'd eventually get used to in the same room anyways?

afatbollix

Ear plugs.

Or turn if off

MrMusician18

A fridge on minimum won't be cold enough to keep food from spoiling.

New fridges are fairly quiet, so you could replace it with something higher quality. You could play white noise to drown out the hum, or ear plugs.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118367972#Comment_118367972

If the door isn’t open it should hold temperature if turned off.

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118368536#Comment_118368536

A fridge on minimum will hold a temperature of about 5-6C long term, well above the 2C it should be at to preserve fresh food.

Maybe he plans to turn it up and down every night but I'd find that would get old very quickly.

Odelay

There are sound deadening kits that come with dishwashers. Id imagine they same comes with fridges. I do know that installers often don't fit the deadening kits when installing. Maybe the same happened to your fridge? Its a bit of foam strip and possibly a tray. A YouTube search should give you a few ideas.

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058224157/managing-sound-of-a-refrigerator-in-a-studio-i-e-in-same-space-as-sleeping-area

The most common cause of noisy fridge is that it is not level or that all 4 legs are not touching the ground... The two front legs are adjustable so adjustable to such a way that the fridhe is not shaky on its legs...

ted1

Is it not the compressor?

ozmo

Some can be noisy - i have often unplugged mini-bar fridges in hotel rooms.

Compressor wont be running all the time - I suppose you get used to it.

A Law

Could putting a timer switch on the plug work? Program it to go off every night at a certain time and come back on in the morning, not sure how much the temp will drop by tho. Might be an option of having it come on for half an hour in the middle of the night if it won't wake you.

Tails142

Turn it off at night, if you keep it fairly full of food or put some cans into it these will help keep it cool. The icebox in these smaller fridges will help too, put some ice packs in it. Keep it on a higher (colder) setting when it is running.

An empty fridge is hardest to keep cool and uses more energy.

Obviously don't open it once you've turned it off and leave it until the next morning when you're ready to turn it back on.

Try it one night and see how cool things are the next morning, if it works out, get a timer.

I read your other thread so know your story, if noises are keeping me awake I play the songs for sleeping playlist on spotify, helps me drift off and stop focussing on annoying things.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118370922#Comment_118370922

Definitely good idea.

It only comes on once a night it would seem.

It's an under counter fridge so the motor doesn't run for that long, but long enough to wake me at 3 am.

Yeah excellent thinking;

Anyone 2nd this opinion?

Timer plugs seem cheap also.

If I set the fridge temp up high you'd imagine it would maintain sufficient low temp throughout the night also to prevent food spoilage, despite not being active.... ?

blackbox

Make sure you get a quiet timer plug!!!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118371014#Comment_118371014

Recommendations?

Prob means it would have be digital.

Esel

Is this all because you are sleeping in the kitchen to escape the pump noise in the bedroom?

Have you tried ear plugs yet?

A Law

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/smart-plug/

I use tp links but would imagine they're all the same. Think I got two for 24€ on offer in Argos, don't think they sell them now.

Apparently food may become unsafe in a fridge without power after 4 hours?

Say, 8 hours throughout the night, every night - bacteria accumulation?

It's hard to know; could be a recipe for food poisoning?

https://www.energuide.be/en/questions-answers/can-i-still-eat-the-contents-of-my-fridge-and-my-freezer-after-a-power-outage/2118/

blackbox

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118371017#Comment_118371017

Yes. If you're very sensitive, mechanical ones make a little noise.

What I've just realized also is, it's not the fridge compressor, it's the horrible sound of the coolant moving through the condensor coils.

It sounds like something being dragged over concrete.

The compressor itself on this model is relatively silent.

Maybe it's a little dysfunctional?

spaceHopper

second check it's level, you'll get used it if it's a normal fridge but if it's particularly loud it might on the way out and it should be retired

silver2020

If you know anyone traveling from the USA, ask them to bring you a couple of tubs of melatonin. 3mg should be sufficient.

It's a natural supplement that aids sleep.

Time release version is best.

Here you can be prescribed a grey market version called circadian, but it's expensive at about €1 a tab. In the US it's about $20 for a bottle of 200.