How To Install Water Line To Refrigerator From Sink

How to Install Fridge Plumbing

Updated: Jun. 26, 2022

Here'south how to run a water line to your refrigerator's icemaker.

Family Handyman

This article will show y'all how to run a water line to your refrigerator for an automatic ice maker and water dispenser. The story and how-to photos cover borer into an existing h2o pipe (the toughest part of the job) and attaching copper tubing to the fridge. If you're replacing your old refrigerator, this DIY project covers everything you need to know to install the plumbing.

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Fourth dimension

A total day

Complexity

Intermediate

Cost

$51–100

Plumb the refrigerator

Soldered connection

The i/4-in. copper tubing connects to an existing cold water line.

The biggest claiming when running a refrigerator water line is tapping into the cold water piping and running the 1/four-in. O.D. (outside diameter) flexible copper tubing. Y'all can buy icemaker installation kits at home centers and some hardware stores, but we don't recommend them. Most contain a saddle valve (which doesn't see plumbing code in some regions) and some comprise plastic tubing (which can dry, split and leak over fourth dimension). We recommend more permanent valves and copper tubing for amend h2o menses and reduced risk of leaks, which can crusade all-encompassing impairment.

To start, locate the common cold water source nearest to the refrigerator—maybe nether the kitchen sink, below the floor, in the wall or even in the ceiling. In this kitchen, we ran the new refrigerator water line from under the kitchen sink through cabinets. (Note: Nosotros removed the drainpipes to conspicuously bear witness this projection.) Exist sure to keep the tubing above storage areas and behind drawers if possible to avert tube damage. If you need to drill through floors or walls, cheque for air ducts, electrical wiring, plumbing or other possible impediments first. Next, calculate how many feet of 1/4-in. O.D. flexible copper tubing y'all need for the refrigerator h2o line. Figure 6 to 8 ft. of extra coiled tubing behind the fridge so you can pull it out for cleaning and service.

And then decide which one of 3 fridge water line connection options you volition apply: a regular tee fitting that is soldered, a compression tee fitting or a saddle valve. Plumbers recommend removing a section of the cold h2o pipe to solder in a regular 1/ii-in. copper tee. If you have CPVC (plastic) or steel pipes, add tee fittings fabricated of the aforementioned cloth. If you don't want to solder, you lot can cutting the copper water pipe and install a 5/eight-in.O.D. compression tee instead (just don't use them inside walls because information technology's not safe and plumbing code won't allow it). Add pipe compound to the threads to make information technology easier to tighten compression joints.

The least dependable option is a saddle valve designed for 1/ii-in. copper pipage. It has a tiny shutoff valve that uses a sharp pointed metal rod to pierce the outer wall of the pipe when screwed in. Then you back out the rod and water flows through a tiny hole into the tubing. Some appliance installers say saddle valves work, but most refrigerator makers recommend that yous drill a hole in the pipage for better catamenia instead of using the valve to pierce the hole, then adhere the saddle valve (check your possessor's transmission).

To begin, shut off the water at the main valve, so open the sink faucet and some other lower level faucet to drain the pipage. Adjacent, cut out a small section of the cold h2o piping and solder in a copper tee. Cut a 3- to iv-in. piece of copper pipe and solder it into the tee under the sink, and then solder a water supply stop valve on the other end. In one case the assembly has cooled, close the new valve and open the h2o primary to check the fittings for leaks.

Then plan a tubing route through all the cabinets (avoiding sharp turns that can kink tubing) and drill 1/2-in. holes as needed betwixt cabinets. To straighten coiled tubing (non the entire roll), accept a partner hold the finish of the tube flat on the floor, then push the ringlet against the floor while unrolling to the length you need to go through the cabinets. Now snake the tubing in backward, starting at the fridge and then the coiled portion remains there.

Next, adhere the i/iv-in. fridge water line to the cease valve with a compression joint. Then attach the tubing to the back of the cabinets every 2 to 4 ft. using 1/4-in. nylon wire/cable clamps. Once you're outside the last cabinet, don't adhere whatsoever clamps; just run the tubing to the flooring about the water line hookup on the fridge. But do clamp the tubing to the fridge.

Don't forget to flush out the tubing by running a gallon of h2o through the new line into a bucket before you attach information technology to the refrigerator. To adhere the tubing to the refrigerator, follow the owner'southward manual.

Normally the compression fittings come with the refrigerator. Before yous cut the tubing to its terminal length, make sure you have 6 to 8 ft. of coiled tubing that volition remain coiled and stored behind the fridge when you push information technology dorsum into place.

Exist sure to cut the end of the tubing square. So slide on the pinch fittings, lubricate the threads on the refrigerator fitting with pipe compound and screw on the tubing. Of import: Manus-tighten the fitting, and so tighten three-quarters of a turn using a small wrench on both sides of the plumbing fixtures. Once it'south attached, open the new stop valve and cheque the entire fridge water line pipe arrangement for leaks.

Culling connections

These photos testify alternative ways to connect to the cold h2o piping.

Required Tools for this fridge water line project

Have the necessary tools for this fridge water line DIY project lined up before you commencement—you'll save time and frustration.

You lot may also demand a drill and a 1/2-in. bit if yous need to run the water line through cabinets, as shown here.

Required Materials for this refrigerator water line project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials set alee of time. Here's a list.

If your pipes are steel or plastic, use that textile for the tee instead of copper.

Originally Published: June 26, 2022

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Source: https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-install-refrigerator-plumbing/

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