How to Replace a Refrigerator Water Line

Water lines to refrigerators allow for convenient access to filtered drinking water or ice from built-in ice machines. These water lines are connected to cold water access valves, usually located behind the refrigerator near the floor. Water lines are available in plastic, copper tubing or braided versions depending on the preference of the installer. Because moving a refrigerator to get to the water valve is not an easy task, being confident in the connection after installation is crucial.

Things You'll Need

• Cup or pitcher
• Pan or small bowl
• Adjustable wrench
• Braided water line
• Teflon tape

Instructions

1. Turn off the water valve and switch the shut off lever on the internal ice maker. Fill a cup or pitcher at the water dispenser at the front of the refrigerator to drain the water line. For refrigerators that only have an ice maker, remove the internal ice bucket from the freezer, and reach in to hold a cup under the water flow nozzle to the ice tray. Use the edge of the cup to depress the small lever near the tube that manually releases the water to drain the line. The line may sputter and pop a little while draining as the line empties.

2. Position a pan or small bowl underneath the connector of the water line to the cold water valve. Use a wrench to carefully loosen the nut and pull away the connector from the valve. Let any extra water in the line drain into the bucket or bowl.

3. Use the wrench to remove the other end of the connector that attaches to the water intake on the refrigerator. Have the bucket or bowl ready to catch any further water from the line or the refrigerator connection.

4. Connect one end of a braided water line to the refrigerator connector. Apply Teflon tape to the threads on the refrigerator, and tighten the nut over the threads with a wrench until secure. Don’t overtighten the nut at this point; only secure it to the water connector.

5. Wrap the threads on the cold water valve with Teflon tape and connect the other end of the braided water line to the valve. Tighten the nut with the wrench but do not overtighten it either.

6. Turn the water on slowly at the valve. You will hear the water begin flowing quickly into the line and filling the water reservoir in the refrigerator. Check the connection at the valve for any leaks. If water is beginning to appear at the joint, tighten the nut a bit more until the leak is sealed. Do the same with the connector at the refrigerator.

7. Run water from the front dispenser of the refrigerator for about a minute to purge all the air from the system. When the water stops sputtering it will be purged. For ice maker only refrigerators, fill a cup just as you did when draining the line and let the water run until it flows smoothly without sputtering. Replace the ice bucket at this time and reactivate the ice maker. Check the joints again to ensure there are no leaks.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a braided water line instead of plastic or copper because the nuts are integrated for easy connection and the braiding is strong enough to twist without breaking or pulling loose.

• For refrigerators with an integrated water faucet and ice maker it is only necessary to drain the dispenser, as this will also pull the water from the ice maker line as it drains.

• Be sure that the water is turned off to the refrigerator line before removing the connections.

References

• "Kitchens for the Rest of Us: From the Kitchen You Have to the Kitchen You Love"; Peter Lemos and Ken Gutmaker; 2009