I'm going to hook up my fridge ice maker, it came with a plastic supply line. I bought this fridge new 2 years ago and just have not hooked it up.

I have the valve and the fitting all installed from the 3/4" copper cold water supply line directly under the unit.

all i have to do is pull the fridge out, drill and connect. i have been holding off on this project since a friend of mine had an incident with his.

he had his installed with the platic supply line for several years, then one day the went away on vacation for a few days only to return to a basement flooded with 40" of water.

the plastic supply hose had gotten brittle and burst while they were away.

i want to use copper, the only kits i've seen use those stupid ferrel's that you slide the nut on, then the ferrel and crank it on the fitting.

is there anyway i can flare these ends? whats the best way?

 

The compression fittings should be fine for city water pressure. Add in the fact that there will be no vibration (like in a truck)in your home. Remember to leave a coil behind the fridge to service the fridge.

 

Compression fittings (ferrel & nut) are the way to go as long as you don't use the 400 pound gorilla to tighten them up.
Mine's done with copper pipe and hasn't leaked a drop in 5 years.

 

we have country water pressure here, 45 psi or so from the well.

 

Tube fittings with ferrules are better than flared fittings. Industry went away from flared fittings eons ago in far more critical service. You just have to follow the instructions (like most other things) when you use them. Plastic tubing is designed to handle the pressure and really is adequate. Plastic tubing is more flexible and permits the refrigerator to be pulled out from the wall without crimping. Either type tubing or fitting is prone to leak if not properly installed.

 

Copper tubing with a ferulle is fine. We do them all the time this way on homes all the way up to multi-million dollars.

Just leave a coil of tubing behind the fridge so when you pull the fridge out, the coil will come with it. Kind of like a coiled air hose.

I'd use copper way way before I would even think about using plastic tubing. I'm sure someone here will come up with the copper getting brittle or work hardening and cracking/breaking but really, how many times a year do you pull your fridge out?

Jeff

 

Use the copper line and compression fittings. Compression fittings & copper tube are used with propane gas supply lines, so they are more than overkill for water supply. The plastic line would dry out and get brittle long before anything will happen to copper.

Jim

 

If you're talking about the line from the wall to the back of the fridge I use braided stainless steel. They sell them at most home improvement stores in lengths around 6-7' long. I've used these braided stainless steel supply lines on all my plumbing for washing machines, toilets and the ice makers for the past 10 years and haven't had a leak yet. They are a little more expensive though.

Just my .02

 

If your wells anything like mine, I cant use copper due to teh mineral load.
Plastic works just fine and I have our pressure set at 50psi..........

 

I do once a year to clean the dust from the fan and condensor coils. Keeps it running efficiently. If you have never done it take a peek back there and see how much dust and crud can build up over the years.

That is a great idea. Very rugged and flexible. Cooper line is a good idea to but it is rigid and is a bit harder to work with.

 

City pressure can run in the 80's around here. 45 from a well is no big deal to the compression fitting. If one is worried about mineral load, use a icemaker filter installed near the tap to protect the whole installation. I have my icemakers hooked to the RO system under the kitchen sink. Usually makes clear cubes.