Expert Tips for Connecting a Refrigerator

It can be exciting buying a new refrigerator for your Evansville, IN home, but modern appliances are a lot more complicated than their predecessors.

Nowadays, fridges come with water dispensers and ice makers, both of which need to be connected directly to the kitchen plumbing.

Luckily, installation isn't too difficult. It just takes some extra planning and a bit of effort to pull off. Here's a simple guide you can use to help you set up a new refrigerator.

Connecting the Water Dispenser

The very first thing you need to do is find a nearby cold-water supply. Kitchens often have them under the sink.

If you're a lucky homeowner, it's possible there's one directly behind where the refrigerator is meant to be installed, and if this is the case all you need to do is make a direct connection, and you're finished.

Otherwise, once you've located the water supply, follow these steps.

Step 1: Plan Out the Piping

This may depend entirely on how the kitchen is designed. In some cases, it may be possible to run piping through cabinets, while in others one may be forced to have them go through the flooring.

It's also important to record precise measurements, so you know exactly how many materials you need. You may also decide to run the piping either through cabinets or beneath the flooring. Don't forget to record accurate measurements so you can be sure you have enough materials for the project.

Step 2: Water Turn Off Valve

Shut off the water at the supply and run a faucet until all the water flows out. This will reduce the amount of water that may leak while you conduct the installation.

Step 3: Connect an Adapter to the Water Supply

There are three types of adapters you can use to connect your fridge to the water supply: a soldered tee-fitting, a compression tee-fitting, and a saddle valve. Many kits you can purchase from a store will include a saddle valve. We strongly recommend you don't use these.

Saddle valves don't work well and are often made poorly. Many states don't allow licensed plumbers to install them. Instead, you should use a tee-fitting. Soldered tee-fittings, made by hand, are stronger than pre-made compression tee-fittings, but either one will serve its purpose.

After selecting a type of tee-fitting, disconnect the kitchen sink faucet from the water supply and connect the tee-fitting. Next, connect the faucet to the tee-fitting, giving both the appliance and faucet access to water.

Step 4: Attach Piping to Tee-Fitting and Refrigerator

Link up the piping to the final connection in the tee-fitting and run it along the pre-planned path. Hook it up with the last connection behind the fridge. Turn the water back on and look carefully for leaks at the tee-fitting and along the piping.

Once you're able to confirm the connections are solid, test them by running a few gallons of water and making a couple buckets of ice. Keep doing this until you get clean water coming out of both devices.

Connecting the Ice Maker

In modern refrigerators, the water dispenser and ice maker share the same water line.

This means if you successfully followed the instructions above, you should already have a functioning ice maker.

Hiring an Expert to Help

Kitchen plumbing projects can be intimidating, and nerve-wracking.

If you feel you need assistance from an experienced hand, there's no shame in asking for help.

Hiring an expert to perform an installation assures you the job will be done successfully. Feel confident knowing your brand new refrigerator will be up and running in no time.