How to Install a Refrigerator Water Line

A fridge needs to be installed in a location that can tap into your home’s water supply. First, confirm how your kitchen is supplied with water. Does the supply run through the wall or the floor? Or do you need to connect to a water pipe or the shut-off valve?

If the cold water supply comes through the floor or the wall, connect the fridge to the supply valve with ¼-inch water supply tubing.

Another option is to tap into your sink’s cold water supply via the pipe or shut-off valve. These options typically make the most sense if there isn’t another cold water supply already established.

Some water supplies run through, above, or behind cabinets, drawers, or shelves. This is why a plan is necessary before installing a refrigerator water line.

To mitigate issues, follow these steps:

• Map the shortest path between the back of the fridge and the water line.
• Confirm that no plumbing or wiring will get in the way and be obstructed or affected.
• Source ample amounts of tubing to cover the path, plus an additional 6 to 8 feet to provide enough slack to move the refrigerator without disconnecting the line.

It’s always recommended to refer to your appliance’s user guide or manual for instructions on installing a refrigerator with a water line or disconnecting one if you are replacing it.

Prior to installation, you must shut off the water supply.

If you choose to connect your refrigerator to your sink’s water line, use the hot and cold shut-off valves located underneath the sink.

If you choose to connect directly to a water pipe, shut off the main water supply for your home.

Before moving on to the next step, let’s review how to tap into the different water supplies.

How to Tap into a Sink’s Water Supply

For sinks with a shut-off valve, you can use a tee fitting to tap into the water supply. A tee fitting should fit the valve threads without any issues. The third outlet should have a ¼-inch outside diameter for the fridge water line.

Follow these steps to disconnect the sink water supply if there’s a shut-off valve.

• Place a pan under the water supply connection to catch any standing water. Alternatively, keep a sponge handy to soak up any water that may fall.
• Disconnect the sink water supply from the cold water shut-off valve by unscrewing the tube’s connection nut with pliers or a wrench.
• Attach the tee fitting to the shut-off valve.
• Tighten the fitting by hand as much as possible, and then use pliers to tighten it until it is secure.
• Connect the sink water supply to the tee fitting.
• Connect the fridge water line to the third outlet of the tee fitting.

For sinks not equipped with shut-off valves, you can tap into the sink’s piping to install a valve specifically for the fridge’s water line.

First, confirm that the valve’s inlets match the pipes’ diameters. The outlet should have a ¼-inch outside diameter to fit the fridge’s water line.

Follow these steps to tap into your sink’s piping to install a valve:

• If using a self-tap saddle valve, attach it to the pipe. Make sure you do not pierce the pipe until the water line is connected to the fridge.
• If using a stop tee valve, you will have to remove a section of the water supply pipe. First, mark the section you intend to cut.
• Cut the marked section with pipe cutters.
• Deburr the interior and exterior of the ends of the cut pipe. For this job, you can use a deburring tool or a metal file.
• Attach the valve to both ends of the pipe, ensuring that it is securely in place.

How to Tap Directly into a Water Line

Follow these steps to tap into your home’s water supply to install a refrigerator water line through a wall or floor.

• Locate where in the wall or floor is the closest water supply line to your fridge.
• Cut a square hole in the wall or floor, ensuring it is big enough to access the cold water supply line.
• Install an access panel over this hole, so you can reach it for maintenance later on, if needed.
• Install the stop tee valve.

These steps will help you run a refrigerator water line:

• Uncoil the water line tubing.
• Start at the water supply location and feed the tube along the path that you planned in the earlier step.
• As you do this, drill holes big enough for the line and connector to travel through the floors, cabinets, or any other obstacles that might be in the way.
• Every 2 to 3 feet, use a cable or nylon clamp to secure the line to the floor joist or cabinet.
• Do your best to ensure the line doesn’t kink along the way.

Follow these steps to connect a water line to the rear of your refrigerator:

• Use sealing tape to cover the threads on the water line connection at the rear of the fridge to prevent leaks.
• Attach the water line to the fridge’s connection using a wrench
• Ensure the nut is as tight as possible. Otherwise, you will be susceptible to leaks.

These steps will help you connect the water supply to your fridge:

• Connect the water line to the 1/4-inch outlet on the water supply valve.
• Tighten the nut as much as possible.
• For those using a piercing valve, turn the knob to push the needle into the pipe to pierce it. After the water is back on, remove the needle by turning the knob in the opposite direction.
• Confirm that all connections have been made and tighten any that might be even a touch loose.

To test the water supply, you will need to do the following:

• Turn on the water supply.
• For models with a water dispenser, run one to two gallons of water through the line. 
• If your model has an ice maker, make two to three batches of ice.

Your refrigerator water line should now be installed. Go ahead and enjoy fresh, cold water and ice whenever you’re thirsty or hosting a gathering.