Home Depot sells a variety of ice maker kits for installation in different refrigerator models. The kits come with everything you need to hook up the ice maker unit in the refrigerator's freezer, provided that your model is equipped with the necessary connections. Write down the model number and brand of your appliance to buy the correct kit, which you can install in about an hour with household tools. You'll also need a water-line kit to connect a supply hose from the plumbing to the refrigerator. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Install the ice Maker
1. Disconnect the refrigerator electrical cord and pull the appliance from the wall so you can access the back panel.
2. Connect the ice maker's power plug to the socket inside your freezer at the top.
3. Slide the ice maker onto the support brackets on the side and back of the freezer to hold the unit in place. Secure the ice maker with the screws supplied in your kit, tightening with a screwdriver.
4. Place the fill cup in the slot below the ice maker and insert the ice maker's rubber fill tube inside the cup. Slide the ice bin under the ice maker.
Install the Water Line
5. Turn the valve for the cold water pipe under your kitchen sink clockwise to shut off the water.
6. Wrap Teflon tape on the cold-water pipe below the pipe's cut-off valve. Overlap each tape layer until you have a wrap 3 inches long on the pipe.
7. Hook the C-shaped saddle valve that comes with your water-line kit over the Teflon wrapping. Tighten the screw in the saddle valve with pliers until it punctures the cold water pipe. Twist as far as the screw will turn.
8. Connect one end of the water line in your kit to the threaded tube on the saddle valve. The ring on the end of the tube rotates clockwise.
9. Run the water line to the back of your refrigerator. If necessary, drill a 1/2-inch hole through the cabinet walls with an electric drill and insert the free end of the water line through the holes to make a path to the refrigerator. Attach the end of the water line to the threaded pipe on the back of your refrigerator freezer and tighten with pliers.
Test the Connections
10. Unscrew the cold-water valve beneath your sink and the knob on the saddle valve. Watch for leaking water around the new connections and tighten with pliers, if necessary.
11. Tighten the water line connection on the back of the refrigerator if you see any water dripping.
12. Dry your hands before plugging in the refrigerator electrical cord.
13. Press the ice maker switch to "On" to start the unit.
Tags: saddle valve, water line, with pliers, back your, back your refrigerator, cold water
