Refrigerator Water Line Installation Techniques

Flush and Attach Tubing

• The copper tubing that will carry the water from the source to the refrigerator needs to be clean so contaminants in the line do not end up in your ice or drinking water. Take the copper tubing you will use and place it in the kitchen sink. Place one end of the tubing under the stream of running sink water and let the water flow all the way through the line until it washes out the inside of the tube thoroughly. Allow the water to drain out and continue with the installation. You can attach the copper tubing to the refrigerator immediately by pushing the copper tube into the water inlet as far as it will go and turning the finger nut until it is hand tight. You can use a wrench to tighten it a bit more but do not over-tighten it.

Drain Water Pipe

• Drain the cold water pipe that you will be tapping into since you will have to cut the water line under the sink or along the wall to install the new feed line to the refrigerator. You can do this by shutting off the water main and opening the faucet that the water supply line you are planning to tap is connected to. This is often the sink in the kitchen. Open another lower faucet as nearby as possible to drain all the remaining water out of the line.

Tap Water Pipe

• Cut a small section out of the cold water supply line and solder in a copper t-fitting. You may then solder the t-fitting to the other section of the supply line, leaving one of the three openings on the fitting available. If your supply line is not copper at the source, replace the copper t-fitting with PVC or steel pipe t-fittings. Do not try to solder copper to another type of line. Copper is recommended for best results.

Add Stop Valve

• Solder a stop valve to the open end of the t-fitting so you may have an easy shutoff valve for the water to your refrigerator. You will install a saddle valve and add a compression joint that will allow you to hook up the other end of the supply line to the refrigerator. After giving the soldering plenty of time to cool and set, make sure the saddle valve is closed and turn your water main back on to check for leaks around the new fittings. You may need to add soldering or, if it does not leak, turn the water back off and continue.

Snake Tubing Backward

• Snake the tubing backward from the refrigerator to the stop valve at the source. Clamp the line to the back of the refrigerator to secure it before pulling it away so it doesn’t put too much pressure on the connection to the refrigerator. Plan a pathway for the tubing through cabinets, drilling holes for the tube to fit through where necessary. The path should be completely out of sight if possible. One end of the tubing is already attached to the refrigerator, and you will have to attach only the other end of the tubing to the stop valve using a compression joint.

Securing the Tube

• Add cable clamps or nylon wire to the tubing every couple of feet along the path between the refrigerator and the source. These clamps will secure the tube and keep it from moving around and potentially working the fittings loose. It will prevent damage to the line and make leaks less likely. Turn the water back on and open the stop valve to send water to your refrigerator. Turn on the refrigerator to begin making ice and drinking water.