What Do I Need to Hook Up the Ice Maker in a Mobile Home?

A Valve

• A valve is the first component you’ll need to hook up the water supply to your refrigerator and ice maker. You’ll also need a pipe-cutting tool to make a clean cut into the closest cold water supply pipe. Before cutting into the pipe, be sure to shut off the water to your mobile home. The saddle or compression valve is fitted somewhere along the main line to allow water to flow through copper tubing into the appliance. It will also serve as the shutoff valve once the appliance is connected so you can turn off the water to the appliance should a leak develop.

Copper Tubing

• To get the water from the main supply line to the ice maker, you will need tubing to carry the water. The best option for this is copper tubing. You will find tubing made specifically for this purpose in a plumbing supply or home improvement store. Copper tubing is usually standard in size and easily attaches to the valve and the appliance. Carefully cut the tubing to a suitable length, generally a few feet longer than you need to reach the appliance. Flush the tubing with water, before installing it, to remove impurities from the water supply.

A Drill

• You should have a drill on hand to install the plumbing to your ice maker. Often the water supply line is under a nearby sink; and once you tap into the line, you’ll have to create a hidden path for the tubing to run from the valve to the appliance. To keep the tubing hidden and as straight as possible, you may need to drill small holes in cabinets or sheet rock to route the tubing to the back of the appliance.

Soldering Supplies

• While the copper tubing typically attaches to the water inlet on the back of the appliance with a lock nut, attaching the valve to the main water line and the tubing to the valve is another story. These copper pieces must be soldered together to form a watertight fitting that will last for years. Soldering is not a difficult task, but you will need the right supplies. Use a small propane torch to heat the joint and flow the solder directly off of a new roll into the copper joints. If you are dealing with PVC and plastic lines, then you will have to use pipe glue.