Fridge fan quieting

[Byrogie]

My fridge fan is louder and whinier inside the trailer than outside.
There are 4 fans, fridge is in a slide, so side vented.
Anybody done a mod to reduce the sound?

[dennis1949]

Took mine to the shop last year for that. Said bearings in fan need oiling. Been quite ever since
qiute ever since

[memtb]

Completed install today.....fans worked. And then....refrigerator didn’t work on AC, just gas. No panic yet, as we mostly boondock.....but concern. Troubleshooting all fuses, breakers, nothing found! Now getting concerned! Unplugged 120 vac power, and tested receptacle.....no power. Feeling better.....recheck breakers....nothing “tripped” Confused and perplexed! Then an “epiphany”, sure enough....one of the kitchen GFI’s was tripped and took out the refrigerator receptacle! Crisis averted....celebrate with a beer! 😉

[memtb]

myredracer wrote:
I've never had the upper vent off our fridge (8 cu. ft. Norcold) so I had a peek yesterday while doing a wash 'n wax job and see that there's just one 4" fan in there. If Norcold can do it with a single fan and be very quiet, can't a single (or maybe two) decent 4" ball bearing fan(s) work just fine in a Dometic? I would assume both manufacturers have a spec for min & max cfm for sidewall vented fridges.

We’ re in the process (should complete and test today) of replacing our single fan with a pair on our Dometic (14 year old unit). The fans have “fluid bearings”, not sure exactly what that means.....but, they are very quiet. Hopefully they will help the refrigerator performance. Fingers crossed!

[myredracer]

I've never had the upper vent off our fridge (8 cu. ft. Norcold) so I had a peek yesterday while doing a wash 'n wax job and see that there's just one 4" fan in there. If Norcold can do it with a single fan and be very quiet, can't a single (or maybe two) decent 4" ball bearing fan(s) work just fine in a Dometic? I would assume both manufacturers have a spec for min & max cfm for sidewall vented fridges.

[Themucsel]

Replaced my outside noisy fan with two AeroCool Silent Master 2000mm (EN55642) that I found on Amazon at $21.17 each. I got the idea from Charles Coushaine on his YouTube channel. Easy install, no noise at all, and a lot more air flow.

[fncampn]

I just did this mod today. My Dometic is in the super slide and the single factory fan was a bit on the noisy side. Not obnoxiously loud but loud enough to be annoying when watching TV on low volume or reading.

I replaced the fan with 2 larger fans which are super quiet and flow more air. Here's a clicky to the fan on Amazon.

I also added some Reflectix across and over the top of the upper coil fins to direct air from the fans out the upper vent. There is a void above the coils that traps hot air so very little if any flowing air would get out of the vent.

Outside temp is 91F right now with the slide in the direct sun. Freezer temp is 20F and fridge is 41F. Decent cooling performance with the heat soak.

[2112]

ScottG wrote:
For fridges mounted in slides, I have wondered if using a 10~14" electric radiator fan mounted on one (or both) of the outside covers would work well. You could even use a speed controller so it doesn't have to turn faster than needed to reduce noise. They're cheap and flow a ton of air.

This a good idea, something to look into. My fridge is slide mounted with two fans. I hear them if all else is quiet but I wouldn't classify them as loud.

[YC_1]

If there are any gaps around the refer the noise can easily get inside and with four of them it is probably like big speakers in a speaker enclosure.

Remove the moulding around the front of the refer and seal around it. Noise can come through the smallest holes.

[ScottG]

For fridges mounted in slides, I have wondered if using a 10~14" electric radiator fan mounted on one (or both) of the outside covers would work well. You could even use a speed controller so it doesn't have to turn faster than needed to reduce noise. They're cheap and flow a ton of air.

[filrupmark]

Just buy a better 12v fan from amazon and replace it. The factor fan is the cheapest thing possible.

[Byrogie]

myredracer wrote:
It might help if you post what brand it is. Is it obnoxiously loud or you're just not used to the sound? I believe some have replaced the fan(s) with a quieter ball bearing type.

We have a Norcold fridge in our slide and I have never heard the fan(s) running, even close up outside. I do hear the burner when running on propane tho.

Dometic RM1350SLMX

Video here:
https://youtu.be/3GgHtzFgX4M

It is loud enough that you can hear it while watching TV movie with volume up.
Not getting used to it after 3 months almost full time. It is a new trailer so trying to make it a warranty issue, but early indications are not positive.

[Ductape]

The fan on our new Norcold must be thermostatically controlled, it runs only in hot weather. Side vented in the slide.

For the OP, I'd look for new replacement fans with ball bearings.

[myredracer]

It might help if you post what brand it is. Is it obnoxiously loud or you're just not used to the sound? I believe some have replaced the fan(s) with a quieter ball bearing type.

We have a Norcold fridge in our slide and I have never heard the fan(s) running, even close up outside. I do hear the burner when running on propane tho.

[Byrogie]

All 4 fans are outside. There is no inside fan. That is what is confusing me.
This is a new trailer...
Will check into Richards suggestion

thx