ᐅ Refrigerator with a direct water line connection

Created on: 11 Sep 2022 14:18
F
FrankChief
Hello

We want to have a refrigerator with a fixed water connection for our new build, for example for ice cubes.

My question is: How long can the supply hose for the refrigerator be?

The hose has a 1/4" diameter.

The water connection in our kitchen is about 3m (10 feet) away from the refrigerator.

My question is:
Do we need to install a separate water connection for the refrigerator?

Or can we run a thin 1/4" line surface-mounted to the refrigerator?

Or is a 3m (10 feet) supply hose long enough?
J
Joedreck
12 Sep 2022 05:42
That can be done without any issues. I have been doing it for years. You just need to make sure to run water through the refrigerator regularly so it doesn’t stay in the hose for too long.
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FrankChief
12 Sep 2022 06:59
@Patricck you mean we should just run a surface-mounted conduit to the refrigerator and connect the water supply there?

@Joedreck you also installed the supply hose with a length of 2-3m (6.5-10 feet)?

So you’re saying that’s not a problem? It is only a 1/4" hose anyway
K
kbt09
12 Sep 2022 08:00
@FrankChief .. to decide questions like whether to install surface-mounted fittings, you obviously need to know the best place to install a water tap for the refrigerator. For that, you need a kitchen layout ... and maybe also to know on which side the water connection on the refrigerator is.

EDIT:
And since it is a new build, I would plan this carefully and, if necessary, install a second water connection.
Patricck12 Sep 2022 09:19
Well, a kitchen designer plans a kitchen, so they should also include the water connection in the plan.
T
TmMike_2
12 Sep 2022 09:31
It is important that the connection is not directly behind the refrigerator, but rather
kbt09 schrieb:

... and perhaps also knowing on which side the water connection on the refrigerator is.

The fixed water connection is always on the back of the refrigerator.
If it is not a built-in refrigerator, the tap point must be installed either to the left or right of the refrigerator anyway (the built-in depth is oversized, meaning the refrigerator protrudes slightly).
My heating engineer installed the connection directly behind the refrigerator, and now I use a hose from the angle valve. It’s about 5 meters (16 feet) without any issues.
However, I would recommend regularly drawing water for hygiene reasons.
We use the water dispenser several times daily and change the water filter twice a year.
F
FrankChief
12 Sep 2022 12:12
@TmMike_2 Yes, I do have concerns about hygiene with the 2.5m (8 feet) long hose.

A water connection directly next to the refrigerator isn't possible because of the cabinets,
so the only option is to use the water connection from the dishwasher, which is 2.5m (8 feet) away from the refrigerator.

Alternatively, we could choose a refrigerator with a built-in water tank.

We don’t actually need much water; we would only use it for ice cubes.