ohgod, refrigerators. i feel you. i have a mini-fridge in the yurt and my top priority in purchasing it was that it be QUIET. it is actually the quietest fridge i've ever met, which is not soundless, but it doesn't wake me up through my earplugs as many other fridges have done, so it's alright. small electronic background sounds drive me nuts, as much as unnecessary LEDs in a dark room (and aren't all LEDs unnecessary, when it comes right down to it?)