So you just purchased a brand new, state-of-the-art refrigerator. The next step is to install it and hook it up to your kitchen's water supply. That's right; modern fridges with gizmos like water dispensers and ice makers need to be connected with kitchen plumbing.
No sweat. All it takes is a bit of prep work and elbow grease. Soon enough you will get to play with your new appliance at your Baton Rouge, LA home. Here's a do-it-yourself guide to installing your new refrigerator.
Water Dispenser Link
Locating a nearby cold-water supply is the first thing that needs to be done. Kitchens often have them under the sink.
There's also a chance you might get lucky and find a water supply valve behind the area where the fridge will be installed.
If that's the case, make a direct connection between the supply and the fridge to wrap things up. Otherwise, once you've found a water supply, follow these instructions.
Step 1: Map Out the Piping Path
Every part of this step depends on the layout of the kitchen. Being able to run piping through cabinets may make things easier, but it's not always possible of the fridge is far away from the water supply.
You may have to run the piping below the floor. Either way, be sure to record accurate measurements, so you know exactly how much piping you will need.
Step 2: Shut Off the Water in the Kitchen
Turn off the water using the valve at the supply and keep a faucet running until the pipes empty out. This will minimize the amount of water that may leak while you conduct the installation.
Step 3: Attach an Adapter to the Water Supply
There are three types of adapters you can use to connect your fridge with the water supply: a soldered tee-fitting, a compression tee-fitting, and a saddle valve. If you've bought a DIY kit, it's likely to have a saddle valve inside. We strongly recommend against using them.
Saddle valves have a poor track record. Many states don't allow licensed plumbers to install them. Use a tee-fitting instead. Soldered tee-fittings, made by hand, are stronger than pre-made compression tee-fittings, but both will do the job all the same.
Once you've selected a type of tee-fitting, disconnect the kitchen sink faucet from the water supply and connect the tee-fitting. Connect the faucet to the tee-fitting, giving both the fridge and faucet access to water.
Step 4: Connect piping to tee-fitting and refrigerator
Attach the piping to the third and final connection in the tee-fitting and link it with the last connection behind the fridge. That's it; the installation is complete. Next, you will want to turn the water back on and look closely for leaks at the tee-fitting and along with the piping. Once you feel confident about each connection, you should test them by running a few gallons of water and making a couple of buckets of ice.
Ice Maker Link
Modern models of refrigerators with water dispensers and ice makers often only use a single water line.
This means as long as you correctly followed the instructions above both devices should be fully operational.
Getting Help from a Professional
Kitchen plumbing projects can be daunting, and not everybody is cut out for do-it-yourself jobs.
If you feel you're unable to handle installing a new fridge on your own, you should get in touch with a professional.
They will be able to quickly and safely set you up. Hiring an expert to conduct an installation ensures the project will be completed successfully.