How to Hook Up an Ice Maker on a Refrigerator
Ice makers are a standard feature on most new refrigerators. They are a wonderful convenience that offers an endless supply of fresh-made ice cubes on demand. Typically, the hookup of a new ice maker is not part of the purchase price. Hiring an outside contractor to complete this installation can cost hundreds of dollars. However, most new refrigerator units come with step-by-step instructions as well as installation kits to hook up the ice maker, making the installation process a relatively easy job. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Pipe clamp
- Packing nut
- Compression nuts
- ¼-inch copper tubing (length will depend on the distance from the cold water supply to the refrigerator)
- Drill
- Drill bit
Instructions
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1
Locate the cold water pipes closest to your refrigerator. If your home has a basement, these pipes are typically located in the basement ceiling.
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2
Turn off the cold water supply to the pipes.
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3
Attach a pipe clamp to the cold water pipe.
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4
Screw a packing nut into the cold water pipe. Turn the packing nut until it punctures and taps into the pipe.
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5
Attach ¼-inch copper tubing to the outlet valve on the packing nut using a compression nut. Make certain the valve is closed before you secure the packing nut.
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6
Drill a hole in the floor directly under the refrigerator using an electric drill. Make sure the hole is just a little bit bigger than the diameter of the copper tubing. This hole will go through the sub-floor and into the basement.
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7
Feed the copper tube through the hole and up to the refrigerator.
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8
Locate the water connections on the back of your refrigerator.
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9
Attach the copper tubing to the intake connection using a compression nut.
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10
Turn on the cold water supply.
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11
Turn on the outlet valve on the packing nut.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Do not use the first batch of ice as it could pick up dirt and debris from the copper tubing or other fittings.
