Garald Posted January 21, 2023 Posted January 21, 2023 (still a part of the house-renovation saga...) There is a space in the ground-floor (not so small: about 14m²; former laundry room + a broken toilet I bought from the coop) that we are turning into an independent studio of sorts; it will be my GF's home office when she is around, and my parents' room when they visit. Of course we'd like to install a (tiny) kitchenette, but we'd like it to be quiet. It is not hard to find an under-the-counter fridge having a noise level of 38dB or even 36dB in the technical specifications. (As to whether those are necessarily correct or tell the full story, well...) What can one do in order to bring the noise level further down, without, of course, keeping the fridge from working? One obviously can't put the fridge in an airtight enclosure. The fridge's back will go against an internal wall, with a WC/shower room on the other side.
ProDave Posted January 21, 2023 Posted January 21, 2023 If it only needs to be small, how about a caravan style evaporator fridge, totally silent, no compressor.
Garald Posted January 21, 2023 Author Posted January 21, 2023 (edited) 51 minutes ago, ProDave said: If it only needs to be small, how about a caravan style evaporator fridge, totally silent, no compressor. Example? (Google hasn't helped me.) You mean, one like this one? https://m.darty.com/m/achat/gros_electromenager/refrigerateurs/refrigerateur_bar/klarstein_refrigerateur_a_boissons_silent_cool_mini_frigo_mini_bar_silencieux_30l_classe_a_noir__MK619385856.html?dartycid=sea_shopping-marketplace-online_MP-PLA-Occasion-GEM_New_adgroup_GEM-Occasion&gclid=Cj0KCQiAt66eBhCnARIsAKf3ZNEO5Y5T7qiCroh8osYtOIQGkqSg-VasQgfMel4ujaOK39wIxx6yiScaAhotEALw_wcB&esl-k=sem-google|ng|c630963354220|m|kpla1789486426955|p|t|dm|a142860815236|g18718261849&gclsrc=aw.ds&ofmp=91691492 Odd how it uses more power than many fridges with twice its height and several times its volume - is that a common feature? Edited January 21, 2023 by Garald
ProDave Posted January 21, 2023 Posted January 21, 2023 Sorry the term I should have used is Absorption Fridge. This is how they work: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator They are less efficient than a compressor fridge, but silent in operation. They are common in caravans as the heat source to make it work can be gas, 12V or 240V electricity so very versatile. Here is a 240V one designed for silent domestic applications https://www.amazon.co.uk/Barcool-Bar40-LED-Bedrooms-Guesthouses/dp/B0875NVX17/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=absorption+fridge&qid=1674297318&s=appliances&sr=1-11
Garald Posted January 21, 2023 Author Posted January 21, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, ProDave said: Sorry the term I should have used is Absorption Fridge. This is how they work: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator (Is that the same as what some manufacturers call "thermoelectric cooling"?) 1 hour ago, ProDave said: They are less efficient than a compressor fridge, but silent in operation. Yes, that's the rub, they seem to use more energy than much larger under-the-counter fridges. The one you linked to (40L) uses 162kWh/year (and says it is the quietest in the market), the one I linked to uses 125kWh/year (it is 30L as opposed to 40L; funny how the vendor sells it as "pour les célibataires"). The best energy rating I've been able to find is F, for this one: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/product/B07L6D9F1J/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza?th=1 There also seem to be some very quiet (23dB) compressor fridges, but the one I've found (Klarstein Happy Hour minibar) seems to have even worse energy consumption, to judge from comments online (I can't even seem to get precise energy-consumption information from the manufacturer's website - surely a bad sign). Edited January 21, 2023 by Garald
SteamyTea Posted January 21, 2023 Posted January 21, 2023 We have an old fridge at work made by Bush that is so quiet I may swap it for my one at home. Just did two sound readings, one with it not running, and one with it runnin. 1 meter away. The spike on the first one (not running) is me breathing. Not running Running
Garald Posted January 21, 2023 Author Posted January 21, 2023 The principle used by the fridge I linked to seems to be this one: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling
SteamyTea Posted January 21, 2023 Posted January 21, 2023 14 minutes ago, Garald said: Can you tell us the model? My one at home, that I did the sound test on, was the cheapest from Currys. https://www.currys.co.uk/products/essentials-cur48w22-undercounter-fridge-white-10227820.html The Bush one at work is probably 15 years old, no idea what model it is, looks similar to this one though. https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9312603
Temp Posted January 21, 2023 Posted January 21, 2023 We have a Bosch integrated fridge in kitchen units. I've never consciously heard it running. Perhaps when the door is open?
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