GE GNE27JYMNFFS refrigerator with high pitch noise

[dude.erino]

Model Number

GNE27JYMNFFS

Brand

GE

Age

Less than 1 year

Recently purchased GE model GNE27JYMNFFS makes high pitch noise during duty cycle. Technician recently performed evaluation of noise and concluded it is with normal operation limits. Noise is driving my crazy, see attached video.

 

[Jake]

Its either the compressor or condenser fan motor, contact GE to come back out to see which it is.

What I do is unplug the refrigerator and put something in the condenser fan blade, like a screwdriver to keep it from running, so you can ONLY hear the compressor running by itself, and see if that's where the noise is coming from.

Jake

 

[dude.erino]

Thank you, Jake! Tech is scheduled for Sep 27. Will report results after that.

 

[Jake]

Ok, sounds good.

Jake

 

[dude.erino]

The technician came today and said he will replace the compressor. He will return in a few days to perform the repair. I will check back at that time. Fingers crossed.

 

[Jake]

Thanks for the update!

Jake

 

[Nickschu]

The technician came today and said he will replace the compressor. He will return in a few days to perform the repair. I will check back at that time. Fingers crossed.

I just had this exact model installed and am hearing the same high pitched noise. Please let us know how it goes with the new compressor. I’m not sure I can live with this noise, so I hope there is a fix. Kind of crazy for a brand new unit.

 

[B99]

I too am experiencing the same issue with a similar model. Repair person came out and told me it's normal and that's how the compressors sound now. Definitely not what I wanted to hear after not having any noise issues with a 30 year old GE.

I don't like the high pitch noise - it permeates my entire first floor. I often get it confused with the quieter sound, but similar frequency, of my gas burners being on. It's very distracting. Do other people have noisy homes so they don't notice this? My house is rather quiet and I don't want to have to cover up my fridge noise with other noises. Besides the fact that I can still hear that frequency when trying to watch TV because the fridge is to the left of me about 15 feet away. I guess something can be said for having a less open concept home, but I can't just add doors to my kitchen.

The only saving grace is it doesn't run 24/7 like the Frigidaire I recently returned. It had a loud fan that never stopped running and was even more annoying than this.

After the Frigidaire debacle I was more careful to read reviews and I even listened to my particular fridge in two different stores but never heard the high frequency noise. So either there's something wrong with mine, or the compressors weren't running in the other two at the time I listened to them. Unfortunately most refrigerators aren't in full operating mode in the store, but in something called demo mode which only enables the lighting. Even so, with all the ambient noises in the stores it's not going to recreate the sound you'll have at home.

There's no reliable source to rate fridge noise. Believe me, I've looked. I would swap this fridge with another if I could find something guaranteed to be quieter, but it's a losing battle. Every single fridge has opposing views on noise. Some reviews claim it's quiet and others say it's loud. Perhaps it's a quality control issue and we're all at the hands of fate on whether we get a quiet operating machine or not. I wish Consumer Reports did more in-depth analysis on fridge noise and included video recordings so consumers could judge for themselves.

I've never been more frustrated with an appliance purchase in my life.

 

[Shipupride]

I can also confirm that I have this make/model refrigerator and have the same sound. I had the GE Tech come out and he was unable to hear it (due to age most likely). We did determine that the sound that I hear stops when the condenser is turned off. I am waiting to contact GE Customer Relations with a case number to see what they recommend. $1850 fridge and I'm ready to call it a loss and buy a new one. Like other posters, it is loud throughout the entire first floor of the house and it drives me crazy. I'll keep you posted with updates.

Wondering if anyone who replaced the condenser got relief.

 

[Shipupride]

The technician came today and said he will replace the compressor. He will return in a few days to perform the repair. I will check back at that time. Fingers crossed.

Did he come out and replace the compressor? If so, did it help at all? I'm in the same boat.

 

[B99]

I had a repair person look at the fridge about a week after purchase and they identified two different noises, one which they said was normal and coming from the compressor (ie the noise I found annoying), and one which they thought was being caused by whatever part is attached to the compressor that turns it on and off. They briefly unplugged the fridge and plugged it back in, stating this should help with that second noise.

I was disappointed by the news, but agreed to let them order the part since they seemed to think there was something off about it. That was scheduled to be installed about four weeks after my purchase.

In the meantime, the fridge just randomly got quieter one day out of the blue and has stayed quieter ever since. No idea why.

The repair person switched out that one part, which came with insulation wrapped around it, and that was that. I don't think it had anything to do with the fridge getting quieter, though, since that happened between the two visits.

I still hear it running if I'm right near it, but not at the level I did before, and I'm no longer hyper aware of it.

So my point is, if it's new, try unplugging it and plugging it back in (the tech said sometimes it helps) and also give it a bit of time. Hopefully it will "calm down" after a few weeks.

 

[Shipupride]

Unfortunately, we are 12 weeks into this fridge, and the noise is still as strong as it was in week one. Looking back, I should have just returned the damn thing within the first 30 days.

 

[B99]

I'm really sorry to hear that. Maybe the compressor or that other part I mentioned needs to be replaced.

 

[Shipupride]

The tech wouldn't replace the part as he says it is normal for new appliances. He could not hear the sound. Even after showing him the video above, he couldn't hear it.

 

[B99]

I wonder if you can find a younger repair person to listen to it. That's all I can think of, although my repair person was young and could hear it, but didn't think it sounded unusual so it's hard to say what would come of that.

Another option I started pursuing before it got quieter on it's own was insulating the area around it (like the floor and wall). Amazon sells some products you could try. I specifically ordered this one, but ended up returning it without using it since the sound got quieter.

Look for: MAGZO Adhesive Neoprene Rubber Mat 1/8 Inch (.125”) Thick x 12 Inch Wide x 59 Inch Long, Closed Cell Foam Sheet Roll​

I hope you find a solution! Annoying noises are the worst!