Your Guide to Connecting a New Refrigerator

Buying a new refrigerator can be exciting for a homeowner. It not only looks great in your kitchen, but it also increases the value of your home if and when it comes time to sell.

Picking out the best fridge is the easy part, installing it can be a challenge. Make sure to follow this guide to connecting your new refrigerator, and give yourself some peace of mind.

Learn How to Connect the Water Dispenser

Now that your fridge is out of the box, it’s time for installation. Turn off the water in your house, the run the tap at your sink to drain the line. Once the line is drained, you can tap into the cold water supply pipe.

The cold water supply pipe will either be located under your kitchen sink or in the basement. Once located, tap into the pipe by piercing it with your saddle valve from your kit. Make sure the valve is bolted tight enough, and you hear it pierce the pipe.

Run the tubing from your kit from the cold water pipe up to the refrigerator. If your pipe was in the basement, you will need to drill a hole through the floor by the fridge, to connect it. Once the tubing reaches the fridge, it needs to be connected to the water valve, located at the bottom left of the fridge. Connect these using compression fitting.

Connect the Ice Maker

Now that the connection to the water pipe has been made, you open the valve and let to allow water flow. Turn the water back on, and check your work for leaks.

You will most likely notice a leak at the saddle valve. Sometimes water pressure will be too high and can cause the valve to loosen, and weaken over time. Additionally, the coated metal clip rusts over time, causing the valve to become weaker, and cause leaks.

This is why plumbers in San Antonio, TX don’t use saddle valves, and they are even illegal in some states. If you spring a leak, call a plumber, but be prepared for them to cut your cold water pipe, and install a proper stop valve.

Professional Installation Yields Good Results

If reading the installation manual is making your palms sweat, perhaps it might be wise to have a professional help you out. Choosing professional installation over the DIY version is faster, easier, and causes much less stress in the long run.

You know without a doubt everything has been done properly, and you didn’t have to lift a finger. Our kitchen plumbing system can be quite complex.

Treat it right, and it will protect you from leaks, and other problems down the road. Whether you opt for professional installation or do it yourself, make sure it's done correctly and up to code.