One of the greatest conveniences of the modern age is undoubtedly fridges that let you get water and ice through the door. However, to do this, the refrigerator is going to need to be hooked up to a water supply. Hooking up water to a fridge may sound a bit complicated, and you would be right. Knowing how to hook up a fridge water line, and actually attaching a water line to the fridge without leaks are two completely different things.
We’re going to look at the process of attaching a water line to a fridge, and what exactly is involved. We’ll cover how to make sure it doesn’t leak, and go over a few tips for smoother installation at the end.
How To Hook Up A Fridge Water Line
- Shut Off The Water
Underneath your sink is the water shutoff valve, which you’ll need to turn off. Turn the valve or lever clockwise a ¼ turn, or until it stops. To relieve the pressure still in the lines, turn on the cold water at the faucet.
- Disconnect The Faucet Water Line
With a small rag or bucket under the connection, disconnect the faucet supply tube from the top of the shutoff valve. You’ll need two pairs of pliers for this, one to hold the valve, and one to wiggle the tube out after loosening the nut.
- Connect Add-A-Tee
You’ll be putting in a tee above the shutoff, so you can run a line to the fridge. It will have a pipe nipple to go into the shutoff, and then two outlets. Tighten by hand, then finish with pliers.
- Connect Supply Tubes To Supply
Reattach the faucet supply line from earlier, and tighten the connection. Then attach one end of the new supply for the fridge into the tee, and tighten.
- Connect Supply Tube To Fridge
Attach the remaining end of the water supply to the fridge’s water inlet, and tighten it securely. In most cases, this will simply be a ¼” supply fitting that the line will connect directly to. Hand-tighten, then snug slightly with pliers.
- Turn On Water
Turn on your water under the sink by opening the shutoff valve again. With the knob it will generally be a ¼ turn, if it’s a lever handle, the handle will generally move from perpendicular to parallel in relation to the supply line. Once the supply is pressurized you’ll need to keep an eye out for leaks.
Tips For Attaching A Water Line To A Fridge
Here are some tips about the general process to help you get the project done right, quicker, and easier.
- Before you start a potentially complicated installation, move your fridge a bit and check behind it to see if there are any hookup provisions already in place. You may find that you have a valve and supply in place, and all you need is a flexible tube to connect them.
- Be sure to use a manual or automatic flush function to make sure the dispenser runs all of the air out of the line. Continue flushing with at least several gallons of water to remove any contaminants, and let the icemaker make two batches of throwaway ice before you use any.
- Don’t use a saddle valve. They aren’t terribly common anymore, but you might still see them here and there. They were once the standard, but they were prone to leaking, so conventional shut offs are standard now. Making sure you aren’t using a saddle valve will save you time fixing leaks later.
Save Time & Money By Working With A Local Expert
If you want to make sure the job is done right, and in as little time as possible, reach out today and speak with your local plumbing experts. They can answer any questions you may have and provide any information you might need.