How Noisy And Loud Is A Chest Freezer?

It is possible to hear loud noises from your chest freezer that interfere with the quiet of your home. Are the noises temporary or indicative of an underlying problem?

We wanted to know what causes the loud noises and how to correct them.

Low humming or buzzing sounds are normal noises in freezers that are in good working conditions. 

There are several reasons that your chest freezer is making strange noises.

• The freezer door stays open for a long time 
• The freezer door opened frequently
• Your freezer defrosting automatically
• Contraction and expansion
• Boiling refrigerant
• Ice maker working improperly
• Dirty condenser coils
• Fault in the condenser fan
• Fault in the evaporator fan motor
• Old and washed-out compressor

Continue reading if you want to understand why your chest freezer is making loud noises and what can be done about it.

Is It Possible for a Chest Freezer to Be Noisy?

Unless they are not functioning well, chest freezers are usually not noisy. Loud buzzing, humming, or clicking sounds can be produced when they are not working at optimal rates.

Why Is a Chest Freezer So Noisy?

It’s a good idea to check if the parts are working correctly when a chest freezer is loud.

You can find out what the problem is by looking at the noise coming from the freezer and the part of it.

Freezer Is Making Noise – What Does It Mean?

As a sign, a chest freezer can be noisier than a typical one, there could be a problem. The reasons include:

Freezer Door Staying Open Too Long

A whooshing noise can be heard when the freezer door is open for too long because cold air rushes out and warm air is inside.

This happens because a vacuum is created to equalize the interior pressure with the environment surrounding the freezer, and also when the temperatures go back to normal.

Freezer Defrosting Automatically

There are popping, whining, crackling, and whooshing noises that can come from self-defrosting freezers that have been set with constant cycling ON and off.

This is normal and does not mean that it has a problem.

Contraction and Expansion

You are most likely to hear a popping sound when the compressor is on because of the contraction and expansion of the metal parts inside your freezer.

As the freezer continues to run, the sound will go away, so there’s no need to worry.

Boiling Refrigerant

The popping sound can come from the substance inside your freezer that is responsible for cooling.

This is a normal freezer operation and should not cause any alarm, as it shows that your unit is working correctly.

Dirty Condenser Coils

The airflow in your freezer can be restricted if the fan and condenser coils are dirty. This causes the cooling process to take longer, which results in a loud humming noise.

Ice Maker Working Improperly

The humming noise that comes from the ice maker should be quiet if you have it in your chest freezer. There might be an obstruction in the inlet valve if the noise is louder or longer.

Fault in the Blade or Evaporator Fan Motor

The blades of the fan can have too much frost build-up, making it difficult to rotate them.

The loud buzzing noise is caused by this. The blades can malfunction if they are loose or worn out.

Fault in the Condenser Fan

The condenser fan, which blows air over the coil and releases the heat outside the freezer, can make loud noises if there is an obstruction in it.

If the blades are worn out, the fan in the condenser can be unreliable.

Old and Washed-out Compressor

A worn-out compressor can lead to loud noises which get worse with time, signaling that the compressor will fail in the not too distant future.

You may have noticed that numbers 5 to 9 describe a noisy freezer where maintenance or repairs are required to solve the problem and return it to normal.

Should I Be Able to Hear the Sound of My Chest Freezer Running?

Low, gentle sounds that are not disturbing to your ears, but a sign that the freezer is still running, is what a normal working freezer will produce. Other sounds are also included:

• A buzzing or humming sound is an indication that the compressor is running.
• You will hear a clicking sound when the defrost timer is turned off.
• The sound of a gurgling noise will come from the refrigerant flowing through the tubes.
• The sound of cracking or popping sounds can be heard in the freezer due to the temperature fluctuations and contraction of the walls.

How to Make a Chest Freezer Quieter?

Soundproof Your Freezer

A method of making your freezer quieter is called soundproofing.

Sound waves cannot escape into the surrounding environment because they are trapped. You can do this in several different ways.

• If your home has an alcove, you should put your freezer inside it.
• It is possible to build a soundproof cabinet using plywood or MDF.
• MLV or vinyl can be used to soundproof the inside of the freezer.
• The materials used to create soundproof walls are similar to those used in the recording studios.
• It’s a good idea to soundproof the back of the freezer, but leave room for the fans and motors.

Move Your Freezer

If you don’t like the sound of your freezer running, you can move it to another room or part of your home so you don’t hear it.

Fill up your freezer

A light freezer is more prone to being vibrated than a heavier freezer. The freezer will be weighed down by filling it with items, which will lower the noise and vibrations.

Level the Legs

The freezer should not rock while it is standing. If your freezer is not level, you can simply move it to more level ground. The legs can be raised or lowered by turning them.

Secure the Loose Parts

It’s possible to produce rattling and vibration sounds with loose parts in your freezer.

To keep this from happening, check your freezer and tighten up the loose parts. Tape down the water lines if you need to, or securely hold the drain pan in its place.

Ensure your freezer is clean

It’s a good idea to clean the fans and the Condenser. This is to reduce the noise so that movement is smooth.

Final Thoughts

A freezer can produce sound. It could be a sign that there’s something wrong if you hear new, excessive, or unusual noises.

It is possible to have the issue fixed if you know where the noises are coming from.

If you don’t want to hear sounds coming from your freezer even when it’s not running, you can use various methods to make it quieter.