How to Quiet a Noisy Refrigerator Compressor

Unplug the refrigerator and carefully pull it out enough to access the wall behind it. Before doing anything else, confirm the fridge is level—an uneven fridge can make compressor noise worse and increase vibration.

Use our fridge soundproofing kit to cover as much of the wall behind the fridge as you can. The key material here is budget acoustical material, CelluZorbe™, installed with P329 Spray Adhesive.

As you install, do not place panels in a way that seals off the opening where the motor needs airflow. You want absorption on the wall surfaces—but still enough room for ventilation behind the refrigerator.

If your refrigerator is on a shared wall and you need blocking in addition to absorbing, use our recommended BlocknZorbe™ panels.

Slide the fridge back (still accessible) and listen. If the hum is improved but you still hear thumping, rattling, or vibration that feels like it’s transferring into the floor or cabinets, you’re dealing with structural noise.

If the vibration is being heard in the floor below, install an anti vibration mat (The Stomp Mat™) or vibration isolation pads under the rear wheels and/or the feet so the fridge is decoupled from the hard floor.

For more information, read up on how to soundproof the floor.

While the fridge is pulled out, check the compressor area for anything contacting something it shouldn’t (which can cause rattling/banging). For additional reduction of vibrating metal, apply vibration dampening material near the vibration source. If you minimal space use 1mm thick vibration dampening material.