Sat, 30 May 2026 19:30:27 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229232#Comment_229232 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229232#Comment_229232 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 18:12:33 +0100 WeeBeastie
1. Separate fridge and freezer (undercounter models) - say each is 40 decibels
2. Combined fridge-freezer (usual tower style) - one compressor, say also 40 decibels.

Now, I know that the compressors do not run all the time, and in Option 1 they won't necessarily run at the same time! But if they do run at the same time, is the noise level calculated simply by adding 40 + 40 = 80? That's the level of the 'dial tone of telephone', or 'chamber music in small auditorium' (according to hearnet.com) - which seems very loud. Or is it not a straightforward addition?

I currently have a separate kitchen with a very loud whiny old fridge (poor seals), and a newer small freezer, which I never seem to hear. In the past I've also had a brand new Siemens fridge-freezer which had an annoyingly loud whine despite lots of air circulation.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229234#Comment_229234 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229234#Comment_229234 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 18:22:42 +0100 nigel
We have a SMEG fridge freezer and its barely audible even when first switched on.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229235#Comment_229235 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229235#Comment_229235 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 18:31:45 +0100 WeeBeastie https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229236#Comment_229236 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229236#Comment_229236 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:12:47 +0100 Ed Davies https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229237#Comment_229237 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229237#Comment_229237 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:28:29 +0100 tony
All we ever hear are clicks as they switch on or off]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229238#Comment_229238 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229238#Comment_229238 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:36:15 +0100 billt
Personally, I wouldn't have either of them in a living area, the noise would be annoying especially as it's discontinuous.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229265#Comment_229265 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229265#Comment_229265 Tue, 01 Sep 2015 20:10:04 +0100 rhamdu
Coffee grinder > citrus juicer > kettle > cooker hood > oven > microwave > fridge-freezer > dishwasher

I know the louder devices are likely to operate for much shorter periods, but they are a lot more disruptive when they do. Not that I wouldn't like to have a really quiet fridge - but it seems to me that noise is a fact of life in open plan kitchen living areas.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229275#Comment_229275 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=13638&Focus=229275#Comment_229275 Wed, 02 Sep 2015 10:53:11 +0100 Ed Davies Posted By: billt10 dB is a 10x increase in power, but is perceived as a doubling in loudness.Right, so if we assume that a 40 db fridge and 40 db freezer running together output twice as much sound power as either on their own then the combination would be 43 db power which is the place in the table of perceived loudnesses that WeeBeastie should be looking at?

That's below the level that the chart http://www.hearnet.com/at_risk/risk_trivia.shtml shows, because they're mostly interested in hearing damage.]]>