Is your wine refrigerator too loud?

krogerfoot · Feb 13, 2022

I would like to work the fact that I own a wine refrigerator into every conversation I have, but due to the ongoing pandemic I don't get to speak with anyone outside my immediate family. All of them are well aware that we have a wine refrigerator because it's in our living room and is noticeably loud. I disassembled it and cleaned the fans and frowned sternly at all the other parts, but it's still pretty noisy.

Checking in on various wine fridge sellers, I've found that a typical wine fridge is about as loud as a dishwasher, about 35-45 dB. A dishwasher running 24-7, like a wine refrigerator, would be pretty annoying, but of course that kind of noise is temporary. Our living room and kitchen are all one room—what we call LDK in Japan—and space is at a premium, so there's not really anywhere else we can put it. It's on a wooden floor without a lot of dampening objects around it, so my next move will be to put it on a foam mat, though I doubt that will do much.

So, does anyone else on this forum understand my suffering? Is this a typical rookie-wine-fridge-owner reaction? Have I mentioned that I have a wine refrigerator at home?

(Pictured: The wine refrigerator, of which I am the owner, in my living room.
Photo credit: Wine Fridge Guy)

Omegafanman · Feb 13, 2022

krogerfoot
I would like to work the fact that I own a wine refrigerator into every conversation I have, but due to the ongoing pandemic I don't get to speak with anyone outside my immediate family. All of them are well aware that we have a wine refrigerator because it's in our living room and is noticeably loud. I disassembled it and cleaned the fans and frowned sternly at all the other parts, but it's still pretty noisy.

Checking in on various wine fridge sellers, I've found that a typical wine fridge is about as loud as a dishwasher, about 35-45 dB. A dishwasher running 24-7, like a wine refrigerator, would be pretty annoying, but of course that kind of noise is temporary. Our living room and kitchen are all one room—what we call LDK in Japan—and space is at a premium, so there's not really anywhere else we can put it. It's on a wooden floor without a lot of dampening objects around it, so my next move will be to put it on a foam mat, though I doubt that will do much.

So, does anyone else on this forum understand my suffering? Is this a typical rookie-wine-fridge-owner reaction? Have I mentioned that I have a wine refrigerator at home?

(Pictured: The wine refrigerator, of which I am the owner, in my living room.
Photo credit: Wine Fridge Guy)

Drink faster - you will not need a fridge and or you will not notice the noise :0)
I think most of the forum team would not notice as the fridge is in their wine cellar ;0)

Spruce · Feb 13, 2022

Blimey mate,

Over here in Blighty, we can only dream of a wine fridge. We still rely on the old ice house.

JwRosenthal · Feb 13, 2022

I have one that I converted to a cigar humidor many years ago (custom shelves and drawers made of solid Spanish cedar).

Not sure if there difference between your model and mine but mine doesn’t run a compressor, simply a cooling element of some sort and fan which will get it down into the low 50’s (perfect for long term humid storage of cigars with beads).
It was noticeably louder when it was empty and I was running for several weeks to air out the plastic smell they have when new.
Once loaded and in a carpeted room it’s no louder than running an air purifier or fan.
I think part of the issue is the resonance of the box, not just externally but internally. Since mine is loaded with wood shelves and cigars, it’s well dampened and I have it sitting in a room with a Persian rug. I also have a second humidor on top of it (rather heavy) which also helps to absorb vibration

You can buy blocks at the hardware store that are used as footers under residential air conditioners (look like square s’mores), those should knock out vibration transmitted through the floor.

inside, I would be inclined to wrap the racks with a pipe insulation or wrap the racks with a foam tape of some kind. It will decrease any rattling from the bottles and help cut the echo inside the box.

Lastly, if needed, put another appliance on top of the fridge to weigh it down. Make sure the one on top has rubber feet to decrease vibration.

Hope any of this helps,

watchyouwant · Feb 13, 2022

Hmmm....., Romeo &Juliet Robustos.... I have a few left as well. Normal humidor. Enjoy!

p4ul · Feb 13, 2022

The whining of my wine fridge is drowned out by the whining of my wife as I refill it.

krogerfoot · Feb 13, 2022

JwRosenthal
I have one that I converted to a cigar humidor many years ago (custom shelves and drawers made of solid Spanish cedar).

Spiffy. I used to smoke cigars and spent a lot of time fretting about whether my humidor had the correct hygrometer installed and whatnot. Wine fridges seem to have the same kind of foofaraw surrounding them.

Is that box of Cuban cigars going to land you in jail, or is that not a thing anymore?

Watch my Whisky · Feb 13, 2022

No. It’s fine.

Canuck · Feb 13, 2022

This might be out of the question for most, but a propane fridge is absolutely silent. But you really do not want propane used in any manner, in your home.

Evitzee · Feb 13, 2022

If I understand your post correctly you seem to have a wine fridge in your home. Noise is a function of design, some of the smaller units can be noisy. Many units are built to a price point and don't use the highest quality components or use much insulation. I have a large 360 bottle fridge with double doors (about the same size as a double door American refrigerator) that uses a built for purpose Breezaire cooling unit that keeps the wine at a constant 55 F with the proper humidity. When it clicks on you can hear the fan running but it is no louder than a large fridge. It sits in the hallway right outside my study and I'm never aware of it running during the day. Mine only runs about 25% of the time, but it's well insulated. Putting your unit on a foam mat may help some but probably not a lot.

gbesq · Feb 13, 2022

It’s obviously broken and your wine is in serious jeopardy. Send it all to me and I will store it properly while you seek repairs. No need to thank me. 😉

YYTIN · Feb 13, 2022

FWIW I do own a eurocave and I think it is pretty silent … but I must say it is now located in a pantry. Don’t know if others have one and think the same.

Togri v. 2.0 · Feb 13, 2022

Canuck
This might be out of the question for most, but a propane fridge is absolutely silent. But you really do not want propane used in any manner, in your home.

I love this advice (if you can call it that) 😁

Canuck · Feb 13, 2022

Togri v. 2.0
I love this advice (if you can call it that) 😁

Okay then. Maybe this will suit you better. Refrigerators in hotel and/or motel rooms are silent. And three-way fridges in motor homes that can operate on electricity, are also silent. Perhaps @Togri v. 2.0 might wish to actually make a contribution to the thread!

Walrus · Feb 13, 2022

Don’t have a wine fridge but if my car is making a strange noise but driving ok and I don’t have time to investigate I usually turn up the stereo. I don’t know if something like that is possible I have been to Japan and it may upset the neighbors but I need to at least try to help.

Foo2rama · Feb 13, 2022

@krogerfoot is yours a compressor or heat pump?

JwRosenthal · Feb 13, 2022

krogerfoot
Spiffy. I used to smoke cigars and spent a lot of time fretting about whether my humidor had the correct hygrometer installed and whatnot. Wine fridges seem to have the same kind of foofaraw surrounding them.

Is that box of Cuban cigars going to land you in jail, or is that not a thing anymore?

They were brought back legally about 6
years ago.
I had the same issue monitoring my desktop humidor and my deep chest and got tired of it so invested in better systems.
I run an electric humidifier in the chest and the beads have done an incredible job in the frigedor. The chest I only refill about once a season and the frigedor with the beads has maintained its climate for about 7 years without having to add any humidity (truly shocking).
I have radio controlled hygrometers in them that send the info back to a main terminal that’s mounted to my kitchen refrigerator (the kind you use to monitor the temp/humidity in your basement, garage etc).
You get so used to seeing the same numbers on the display that you ignore it unless there is a problem and then you notice it (amazing how the brain ignores things that aren’t important but can notice things out of place in an instant).
The system has made owning cigars effortless and seeing as I don’t smoke cigars that regularly anymore, it’s not a chore.

Togri v. 2.0 · Feb 13, 2022

Canuck
Okay then. Maybe this will suit you better. Refrigerators in hotel and/or motel rooms are silent. And three-way fridges in motor homes that can operate on electricity, are also silent. Perhaps @Togri v. 2.0 might wish to actually make a contribution to the thread!

I am sorry, this was in no way meant to offend you. It was just a comment on the fact that you warned against something you just offered as an option. I know nothing about fridges. I apologize, sir 🤔

ghce · Feb 14, 2022

Peltier effect cooling device will be near to silent, no noisey motors, compressors or heat exchange panels

I have a friend of mine that manufactures the units for installation in existing or purpose built fridges, extremely accurate temperature wise for either heating or cooling.

Gav1967 · Feb 14, 2022

Best thing to do with a loud fridge is put it in the garden

Is your wine refrigerator too loud?

krogerfoot

Omegafanman

Spruce

JwRosenthal

watchyouwant

p4ul

krogerfoot

Watch my Whisky

Canuck

Evitzee

gbesq

YYTIN

Togri v. 2.0

Canuck

Walrus

Foo2rama

JwRosenthal

Togri v. 2.0

ghce

Gav1967

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