Connect an Ice Maker to Your House with Leak-Free Fittings

Hooking up an ice maker to water is an easy plumbing task, but if done incorrectly it can leak and lead to problems down the road.

Saddle valves come in most do-it-yourself ice maker hookup kits, but they are not built to last. The fitting can rust and come loose and the gasket will eventually fail. In many states these valves don’t even pass code for plumbers to install.

The best alternative is to solder copper fittings, but that’s too involved for most homeowners. Instead use a solderless tee valve that quick connects 1/2” copper, PEX, CPVC, polybutylene, to a 1/4” line to the ice maker. Opt for a braided stainless steel or copper tubing line for the ice maker, over the plastic tubing available in the kits.

Check out the video above for more details from an experienced plumber.

How to connect an ice maker | This Old House (YouTube)

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