How to Connect an Ice Maker Like a Pro | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a special homeowner hook up her refrigerator with an ice maker.
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Time: 2-3 hours
Cost: $30

Skill Level: Moderate

Tools List for Connecting an Ice Maker:
Drill [https://amzn.to/2mSflaY]
Feeler bit [https://amzn.to/2m2QEZg]
Pipe cutter [https://amzn.to/2m2Sycm]
Bucket [https://amzn.to/2nxt07O]
Wrench [https://amzn.to/2n0kFJj]

Shopping List:
1/4 inch copper tubing [https://amzn.to/2mYRAxW]
Copper T fitting [https://amzn.to/2n0ODNl]
Multi-turn shut off valve [https://amzn.to/2npTub8] with a compression connection [https://amzn.to/2lk9laA]
Abrasive cloth [https://amzn.to/2m27305]
Pipe cleaner [https://amzn.to/2mSs6T8]
Solder [https://amzn.to/2nyU9r7]
Flux [https://amzn.to/2lrdIAU]
Flux brush [https://amzn.to/2nxnDFF]

Steps:
1. Shut the water off to the house.
2. Locate the nearest cold water line and determine its location compared to the location of the fridge.
3. With that in mind, pull out the fridge and drill down with a feeler bit as close to the cold water line as possible.
4. Use the feeler bit to determine the best location to drill for the water line. Drill the hole.
5. Carefully uncoil the copper tubing and run it through the hole and close to the water line.
6. Determine where the water line will be cut. Clean that area with the abrasive cloth and cut it with a pipe cutter. Have a bucket ready to catch any water that comes out.
7. Once it’s dry, apply flux to the outside of the T and the inside of the pipe and the multi turn shut off valve.
8. Fit the pipe, the T, and the shutoff valve together and solder it.
9. Connect the _” copper tubing to the other side of the shutoff valve with the compression connection.
10. Go back to the fridge and uncoil the rest of the copper tubing. Leave extra slack high on the fridge so that it can still be easily moved in and out.
11. Find the opening in the back of the fridge to receive the copper tubing and screw it into place.
12. Put the fridge back in the opening and turn the water back on.

Resources:
While there are plenty of homeowner friendly kits [https://amzn.to/2mTU4ha] available for ice maker hookups, Richard suggests doing a little extra work to ensure a secure connection that will last for a long time.

Richard replaced the plastic tubing for copper tubing, and instead of using a saddle valve, he connected it to the cold water line using a compression connection with a multi turn valve, which he soldered into the cold water pipe using a T fitting. All of these materials are available at home centers and plumbing supply houses.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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How to Connect an Ice Maker Like a Pro | Ask This Old House
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