The water line behind a refrigerator is under pressure all the time, whether the fridge is making ice or not. Most of the water damage we see behind fridges comes from thin plastic tubing that hardened and split, or a self-piercing saddle valve that never fully opened and eventually leaked. RepairWell connects ice-maker and dispenser refrigerators in Ottawa and Gatineau to an existing shut-off valve using the tubing the manufacturer recommends.
What the installation includes
- Confirming the existing shut-off valve is a proper quarter-turn or compression valve on a cold line, not a piercing or 3/16 in saddle valve
- Running new 1/4 in (6.35 mm) tubing from the valve to the fridge inlet: soft copper, or the manufacturer's own supply line where the brand requires it, with compression fittings
- Leaving a service loop behind the fridge so it can be pulled out for cleaning without kinking the line
- Flushing the line before connection, then opening the valve and checking every fitting for weeping over a full ice-maker fill
- Replacing the water filter if the fridge has one and the customer supplies it, and discarding the first batches of ice as manufacturers advise
- Written record of the connection on our one-page form
What your home needs already
- A cold-water shut-off valve within reach behind the fridge or under the nearest sink, drilled-type with a 1/4 in outlet (Whirlpool: not a piercing type or 3/16 in saddle valve, which reduce flow and clog)
- Water pressure adequate for the ice maker; Samsung's guidance uses 20 psi as the minimum
- A route for the tubing that is protected from crushing when the fridge is pushed back
- The model number of the fridge, so we bring the right inlet fitting
Work that needs a licensed trade
If there is no shut-off valve, or the only one is a piercing saddle valve on a copper line, installing a proper valve means opening the water supply. That is plumbing work and should be done by a licensed plumber; we connect to the valve they leave. No electrical work is involved in a water-line connection, and we do not touch the refrigerant system. In Quebec, plumbing contractors are licensed by the RBQ; in Ontario, look for a licensed plumbing contractor. [PLUMBING REFERRAL POLICY TO BE CONFIRMED.]
How it goes
- Confirm by phone. Model number of the fridge and a photo of the valve and the route the tubing will take.
- Connect. Valve checked, tubing run and connected at both ends, service loop left, line flushed.
- Test and document. Full ice-maker fill and dispenser run with fittings checked for weeping; written record left with you.
Pricing
Installation is $189 per appliance where the existing connections are in place and correct. Anything extra — a new supply line, a stacking kit, a dryer cord, replacing a foil duct with metal — is quoted before we start. Quoted before we start.
Questions
Copper, braided stainless or plastic: which line should I use?
Manufacturers differ, which is why we follow the one for your fridge. Whirlpool's guidance calls for 1/4 in soft copper or PEX and says copper helps prevent off-tastes. GE recommends its own supply line or copper and warns that other plastic lines can crack or rupture with age because they are under constant pressure. Samsung allows 1/4 in copper or its plastic tubing with a moulded end. Braided stainless jacketed lines are widely sold and [BRAIDED STAINLESS POLICY TO BE CONFIRMED BY OWNER]. What we will not install is thin unbranded plastic tubing.
There's a little saddle valve on the pipe already. Can you use it?
Whirlpool's guidance says not to use piercing-type or 3/16 in saddle valves because they reduce flow and clog easily. Low flow gives small or hollow ice and dispenser complaints. We recommend a plumber replace it with a proper valve first.
The ice tastes odd after the connection. Is something wrong?
Usually not. Samsung's instructions say to discard the first one or two batches of ice, and a new filter needs flushing. If the taste persists after that, call us.
Can you connect a fridge in a spot that has never had water?
Once a plumber has run a cold line with a shut-off to that spot, yes. Running the new line through walls or cabinets is plumbing work.
Do you replace the water filter at the same time?
If you supply the correct filter for your model, we fit it and flush it as part of the visit. We do not stock filters. [TO BE CONFIRMED.]
Related
Sources
- Whirlpool Product Help: How to check the water supply line (1/4 in copper or PEX; no piercing or 3/16 in saddle valves)
- Whirlpool: How to install a refrigerator water line (1/4 in soft copper; compression fittings; flush and leak check)
- GE Appliances: Icemaker installation tubing (copper recommended; most plastic lines wear out under constant pressure)
- Samsung Support: How to install the refrigerator water supply line (1/4 in copper or plastic with moulded end; shut-off valve on nearest cold line; 20 psi minimum)
Reviewed 2026-09-24.
Ask us first
Send the model number and a photo of the space; we'll confirm what's needed before you book.
Online booking is a request. We confirm the appointment by text or phone within 1 business hour.