Why Does My Fridge Sound Like A Cow?

Fridge noises can happen for many possible reasons. Sometimes they are minor issues, and you can quickly fix them. However, some noises are worrisome. Does your fridge moo like a cow and produce other noises? We researched to provide you with this helpful guide to give you more details.

One of the possible reasons why your fridge is mooing is the compressor or the condenser fan. They make a cow sound if debris, dust, and other particles are present. A little clean-up could help lessen the noise.

Are you still searching for other reasons why your fridge is making a noise? Are you not sure what exactly the noise your fridge is producing? You came to the right post because we gathered all the possible answers to your questions.

Why Your Fridge Sounds Like A Cow

The fridge sounds like a cow because of how the compressor works; it is responsible for keeping your fridge cold and circulating the coolant across the coils.

The compressor makes a loud humming noise while it is working. Sometimes it sounds like a mooing cow, and sometimes it is more like a car engine.

What You Can Do With Your Noisy Fridge

There are times the loud noise is a little annoying. There are things that you can do to minimize the noise from your kitchen.

Add a sound-absorbing material to the back of the fridge.

Click here to check this soundproof mat on Amazon.

Buy a fridge with a low noise feature. Some latest fridges have this functionality.

Click here to check this fridge low noise environment on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions On Fridge Issues

We have listed common fridge issues and solutions to the problems.

Why Does Your Fridge Hum?

There are reasons why the fridge makes weird humming noises.

Blocked Air Ventilation

Your fridge hums because there is an item close to the vent. That item prevents the air from flowing, thus making the fridge hum. Always keep some space between the air vents and the stuff you put in the fridge to have the airflow properly.

Floor Level

Uneven floor or fridge legs would cause vibration and weird noise. To fix this, you can move your fridge to an even floor or place a rubber mat underneath to help reduce the noise and absorb the vibration.

Ice Maker

Your ice maker is properly working, but the water is not enough to make ice. Ensure that the water lines are attached correctly.

Compressor

Debris, dirt, or crumbs can cause your fridge to hum. Clean it regularly.

Why Does Your Fridge Click?

If the fridge is making a clicking noise, review this list for the reasons:

Bad Compressor

The compressor's work is to cool the fridge. If the compressor is in bad condition, its cooling functionality will reduce.

The Condenser Coils Are Dirty

Condenser coils condense gas, evaporating the heat for future use. The condenser coils will not function well if they are dirty.

Defrost Timer Issue

The defrost timer could be placed anywhere in the fridge, depending on the make and model.

Start Relay Problem

The start relay is directly plugged into the compressor. You can hear a clicking sound every 2 to 5 minutes. Try to unplug the fridge and plug it back in. See if there are any changes. If it still doesn't work, you can easily replace it.

Why Does Your Fridge Vibrate?

The refrigerator has vibration noise if it is not in a level position or if the floor is not even. Ensure the floor where the fridge is sitting is level. If not, move the fridge around, or you can use cork or mat to level it out.

Why Does Your Fridge Smell Bad Even After Cleaning?

The fridge's unwanted odor remains if there are still microbes lingering inside, even after cleaning it. These microbes come from spoiled food left in the fridge too long before removing it.

The fridge's plastic material absorbs odor-causing bacteria and mold, so you may need to clean it again.

Here are the cleaning options you can do:

Use anti-bacterial cleaner or bleach.
Vinegar is a good disinfectant that removes foul odors on fridge walls.
Lemon is a good deodorizer because of its weak acid.
You can use hydrogen peroxide to clean your fridge.
Baking soda is a great natural alternative for cleaning.
Activated charcoal is also another alternative to clean and remove the unwanted smell. Put the charcoal in a bowl and sit in the fridge to absorb foul odors.
Cotton balls moistened in vanilla.
Remove everything from the fridge, unplug it, and defrost it. Open the door and let it air out for half an hour.

Why Does Your Fridge Have Water On The Floor?

One of the reasons why there is water on the floor of your fridge is water line issues. Check for any water line leakage signs. If there are, you will need to contact a technician to repair or unclog it.

Why Does Your Fridge Ice Up?

The condensation occurs at the back of the fridge. Any moisture inside the refrigerator condenses and forms water which could ice up at the back wall. You can remove the ice through the following steps:

Remove all the food from the fridge.
Unplug it from the power source.
Pour hot water into two separate bowls, then place them inside the fridge and the freezer.
You can use a blower or hair dryer to speed up defrosting.
Wipe excess ice melting from the freezer.

A word of caution. Avoid using a knife or any sharp object to remove ice off the floor and walls of the freezer. It can damage the surface, which affects your fridge's performance in keeping the cold inside.

Why Is Your Fridge Not Cold Enough?

Troubleshoot the possible causes first why your fridge is not getting cold enough:

Ensure that the refrigerator is plugged into the correct power source.
Make sure the door closes properly.
Is the thermostat turned down?
Check any blockage that could keep the air from circulating.

If everything mentioned above works fine and the fridge is still not cold enough, a bad fan, faulty air dumper, or compressor issue could be some of the reasons.

Bad Fan

The fridge has two fans. If they are not working, the refrigerator will not be cold enough.

Faulty Air Damper

The air dumper regulates the airflow between the fridge and the freezer. The freezer may work even if the air damper is faulty, but the whole fridge will not be cold enough.

Compressor Issue

If the fan is running but the refrigerator is not getting cold enough, the problem lies with the compressor. Check any dirt or clog in the condenser coils.

How To Maintain The Refrigerator's Temperature

Here are the easy steps to maintain the fridge's temperature and make them colder:

Adjust the settings of the temperature.
Ensure that nothing blocks the air vent.
Check the seal of the door. Replace the gasket around the door fridge if necessary.
Always clean the Condensation Coils.

How Long Does It Take To Manually Defrost A Refrigerator?

It depends on how much ice has accumulated in the freezer, but it could take up to 24 hours to manually defrost a fridge. You can use a blower or hair dryer to speed up the defrosting. You can also place a bowl or pan underneath the freezer to catch melted ice.

Why Is Your Fridge Making Knocking Noise

One of the possible reasons why your fridge produces a sound like knocking is that it is hitting the wall, but you may need to investigate more to rule out the cause.

Move the fridge away from the wall and see if there are changes to the sound it produces. Make it is a few inches away from the wall and other things.
Check the condenser fan or the motor blade. Listen from behind them and at the bottom of the fridge. If you hear a knocking sound coming from the motor blade, there is an issue with it. Try to clean the fan motor up first. If the knocking is still there, replace it.
Dirty condenser coils also could produce a knocking sound if it is dirty. Cleaning it up could help reduce the noise. The coils are inside the fridge, so it is easy to clean yourself.
If there is a knocking noise from the fridge and the inside is warm, the issue is the faulty evaporator fan. Call a technician if this is the cause of the knocking sound. The technician will inform you if it needs replacement or if it can be fixed.

Summary

It is common for the fridge to make a little noise here and there, but a thorough check-up will help you determine the cause of those noises.

It is better to detect early signs of possible malfunction to prevent it. Try to rule out possible causes before calling a technician or buying a new fridge.

If you want to know more about how to care for your fridge, check on these posts:

How To Clean Mold From The Fridge?

How Much Space Should You Have Around The Fridge?