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How-To

Connecting an Ice Maker

Running and connecting the water line for an ice maker is a DIY-friendly project.

By Steve Cory

Many new refrigerators come with ice makers, which need to be connected to cold-water supply lines. Running and connecting a water line is an easy project, as long as a cold-water pipe is not too far away. Often the refrigerator is on the first floor and the exposed pipe is in the basement or a crawlspace, so you will need to run a line through the floor, as shown here. Or you may need to route the line through cabinets or a wall.

DRILL A HOLE
1. DRILL A HOLE. Using a very long 1⁄2-in. bit, drill a hole down through the floor and through the ceiling below. You should feel the bit drill through about 1 in. of flooring, then there should be an air space until you reach the drywall in the ceiling below (if there is any). If you encounter solid material deeper than 1 1⁄2 in., you’ve hit a joist or other obstruction; try drilling in another location.

 

FISH THE TUBING UP
2. FISH THE TUBING UP. Firmly attach the tubing to the end of the drill bit. Wrap the tape tightly, so it doesn’t scrape off. Pull the drill bit up to bring the tubing through the hole.

 

CONNECT TO THE REFRIGERATOR
3. CONNECT TO THE REFRIGERATOR. Connect the tubing to the ice maker port on the refrigerator. If the refrigerator has a flexible line already installed, as shown, just connect to that line.

 

TIP: An ice maker hookup kit may include a flexible 1⁄4-in. tube as well as a saddle T valve, or a push-on fitting that can be used to make a quick and easy connection to an existing water pipe without cutting or soldering.

 


Excerpted from Plumbing (The Taunton Press, 2016) by Steve Cory.

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