Help - my wine fridge is making lots of noise

[khussey79]

Hello good people,
hopefully someone can help me or point me in the right direction.

My wine fridge has suddenly start making noises, usually it's quite low - like a gentle hum, but maybe once an hour for 5-10mins it make a lot of noise, guessing to regulate.
When I say a lot of noise, it's like a really old computer starting up - it wakes me up from two closed doors.

I'm guessing it might need re-gassing?? (is this a thing?)

Anyone have any experiences that might help me?

Cheers
Kevin

 

[Hvr]

So the wine fridge is whining? That's not cool.


On a serious note if it needs to start up every hour it must need to cool down. Is the seal word or damaged?

How old is it and what brand? Maybe others here have the same type of fridge and have had a similar problem and can suggest a fix.


In the mean time if there is a risk of the wine needing to be consumed immediately just let the members know and they will arrange flights to ensure it's not wasted. (Not me though because I don't drink.)

 

[Legoman]

Probably just the wires & pipes of the compressor/evaporator circuit breaking free of their resilient mounts and vibrating against each other when the compressor starts up. Look in the back and wrap everything so it's resting on rubber insulation only. There should be no metal to metal contact of anything otherwise yes, you will get lots a rattling/buzzing/knocking metallic noise through the frame of the fridge.

The compressor is the big one. It's mounted on four (or more) resilient mounts. Rubber washers with a screw through the middle. The rubber perishes and then it's a loose metal screw mount which rattles when the compressor runs. Take a trip to Clark Rubber and buy all new rubber tube, self-adhesive sound deadening pads, cable ties & self-amalgamating insulation tape. Wrap everything that isn't wrapped and replicate a running compressor by flicking and moving everything by hand. Put soft rubber packers in between any tubes or wires that can possibly touch each other. Hold in position with cable ties.

Lastly, buy a new door seal from Air Tight, lubricate with olive oil for quiet closing and your fridge will be like brand new and completely silent. All DIY work.

 

[Daver6]

A decent wine fridge wont have a compressor.

 

[Legoman]

A decent wine fridge wont have a compressor.

A decent wine fridge woudn't be making lots of noise either, so clearly it's not decent.

 

[Deleted member]

im guessing your first port of call is a "Fridgie"

 

[khussey79]

Thanks for replies,
My fridge is a 72bottle Prima brand. I got it from a friend who upgraded. There are 3 fans inside, and the top one only makes noise, i’ll Open it up tonight in case there is anything obvious.
I wanted to check if it was buggered or can be fixed. As didn’t want to pay call our fee if it was beyond repair

 

[Denali]

To save the wine, you must drink all the wine! Then go online and buy a new fridge... drunk ebaying is always fun.

 

[Dr Ralph]

My fridge is a 72bottle Prima brand.

If it's like this one:

Buy Prima 72 Bottle Wine Cooler | GraysOnline Australia

I wouldn't be spending any money on it.

Note that there is no compressor with this fridge and nor should there be in any wine fridge.

 

[BAM1748]

With or without compressor (thermoelectric) makes no difference (I did my refrigeration apprenticeship many moons back before changing careers) and there are advantages and disadvantages to both types. Thermoelectric are quiet which is their biggest advantage but you're not getting that at present.

If it was me buying a new wine fridge, I'd go for the compressor type, they are cheaper and if you don't open the door all the time they will be more economic and last forever. I keep my wine in a small Westinghouse compressor fridge (made in Australia as well at Orange NSW) I would expect that fridge to last another 20 years.

If your non compressor fridge is is buzzing then it could just be the sensor that kicks the fans into life or the fans not starting properly. See if you can find where it is and it might be easy to replace, otherwise with no moving parts it's a chuck out job for these fridges and more expense.

 

[Daver6]

With or without compressor (thermoelectric) makes no difference (I did my refrigeration apprenticeship many moons back before changing careers) and there are advantages and disadvantages to both types. Thermoelectric are quiet which is their biggest advantage but you're not getting that at present.

If it was me buying a new wine fridge, I'd go for the compressor type, they are cheaper and if you don't open the door all the time they will be more economic and last forever. I keep my wine in a small Westinghouse compressor fridge (made in Australia as well at Orange NSW) I would expect that fridge to last another 20 years.

If your non compressor fridge is is buzzing then it could just be the sensor that kicks the fans into life or the fans not starting properly. See if you can find where it is and it might be easy to replace, otherwise with no moving parts it's a chuck out job for these fridges and more expense.

As I understood it, there are two main issues with compressor based fridges for wine storage. Humidity control and vibrations. Can compressor based units overcome this?

 

[BAM1748]

As I understood it, there are two main issues with compressor based fridges for wine storage. Humidity control and vibrations. Can compressor based units overcome this?

The humidity is created by the contents in the fridge, if you have a small one and only put wine it it won't be any different. If you live in Cairns the moment you open the door on either type the humidity is in. (could maybe put a few of those satchels to soak up humidity if that's a worry)

Vibration, I really only open my fridge on weekends, I'm only guessing but would say the compressor only runs once per day when it doesn't get opened. A thermoelectric runs continuously with the fans cutting in and out. In my own experience there would be insignificant difference.

If anyone is serious about eliminating vibration I'd suggest a compressor fridge that's custom built into a wall with the compressor separated like a split system air conditioner. Any decent refrigeration mechanic could remove the compressor from a regular fridge and put the other side of a wall which also removes the noise, it's just plumbing like a gas fitter would do, cut and extend two copper pipes and the same for the electrics, they should even be able to put the same gas back into the system.

With a new fridge (at least a decent name brand) there would be little in. Thermoelectric in my opinion are way overpriced for no advantage.

Matt

 

[Legoman]

With or without compressor (thermoelectric) makes no difference (I did my refrigeration apprenticeship many moons back before changing careers) and there are advantages and disadvantages to both types. Thermoelectric are quiet which is their biggest advantage but you're not getting that at present.

If it was me buying a new wine fridge, I'd go for the compressor type, they are cheaper and if you don't open the door all the time they will be more economic and last forever.

Werd. For some reason thermocouple electric cooling appears to be all the rage suddenly in all sorts of gimmicky devices being sold online like it's the new messiah or something. In what appears to be a case of marketing over science, someone seems to have noticed a new generation that hasn't heard of the principal before who can be exploited into believing it's the all-new modern way. The Emperor's New Clothes syndrome all over again. I'm not aware of any new technological advancement that makes the process a hundred times more effcient than it used to be, but if there isn't one, then in a world obsessed with climate change and environmental concerns and limiting your carbon footprint and all that do-goodie junk, then using this electrically inefficent method of cooling over and above a much more efficient, reliable, tried & tested conventional compressed/evap gas type method is nonsensical.

If quietness of operation is the only advantageous criteria, then it's not a very strong selling point. Not when compressor fridges can be made to be just as silent running as long as they're not the centrepiece of your loungeroom mounted on the coffee table. Perhaps that's the thing though. Modern millenials want to display their wine collections as conversation pieces mounted on plinths in their bare, deconstructed, minimalist, furniture-free, glass+stainless steel, mortuary-like apartments?

 

[BAM1748]

I keep my fridge out of direct line from the sun as well so it doesn't need to keep cutting in and out, I would suggest a corner of a garage is a good place to put it. But as Legoman points out that isn't a good place to show off your expensive fridge or wine.

I was also considering an old ice chest of the type where you put ice in what looks like the freezer compartment and the the run off goes out the bottom (and through the garage wall into the garden) and put a bag of ice in once per week which I think would be more classy when friends visit and I only need to do that in summer.
Antique Vintage Ice Box Original Ice Chest Fridge Refrigerator Genuine 1900's | eBay

 

[Daver6]

The humidity is created by the contents in the fridge, if you have a small one and only put wine it it won't be any different. If you live in Cairns the moment you open the door on either type the humidity is in. (could maybe put a few of those satchels to soak up humidity if that's a worry)

Its the opposite problem. You want to maintain 60% to 70% humidity. Compressor cooling keeps the air way too dry.

 

[Legoman]

Have my half dozen bottles of AC/DC Shiraz just lept in value this week following Malcom Young's death?

It looks like they have! I bought my half dozen for $120 back in the day.

 

[BAM1748]

Its the opposite problem. You want to maintain 60% to 70% humidity. Compressor cooling keeps the air way too dry.

What I'm saying is type doesn't make a difference, I have a place in Southport, I need to keep it dry relative to what's happening outside. I also have a place in Bowral NSW where a cardboard box with a towel over it does the job.

Compressor cooling keeps the air dry because it's been turned too cold making the humidity turn liquid (or solid).

 

[BAM1748]

I should add, I haven't bought anything with a cork for a while, so CO2 in the air doesn't worry me. Everything with a cork has been consumed !

 

[Daver6]

What I'm saying is type doesn't make a difference, I have a place in Southport, I need to keep it dry relative to what's happening outside. I also have a place in Bowral NSW where a cardboard box with a towel over it does the job.

Compressor cooling keeps the air dry because it's been turned too cold making the humidity turn liquid (or solid).

Ah. I understand now

I should add, I haven't bought anything with a cork for a while, so CO2 in the air doesn't worry me. Everything with a cork has been consumed !

I think you mean H20

 

[BAM1748]

I think you mean H20

It must be wine fridge time when I'm thinking water and type CO2