Can You Run Water Line For Fridge Under The Floor?

Upgrading the new refrigerator with an ice maker will be beneficial for making quickly cooled drinks. But for that, you need to install the water line to the refrigerator. If you want to know if you can install the water line for the refrigerator under the floor, you are at the right place. 

You can install the water line for your refrigerator under the floor by planning the right pathway and drilling it using an electric drill. Install the water line along the hole and attach it to one end with the water supply line under the sink and the other at the back side of the refrigerator. In the end, fill the holes with the filling material. 

In the article, you will get a clear answer to your question and step by step to install the water line under the floor. So, keep reading. 

How to run a water line for the fridge under the floor? 

If you are installing a new refrigerator or adding an ice maker to an existing refrigerator, it is important to install a water line to dispense ice. 

When installing a new refrigerator, check if there is a water supply line to an old one. 

You can easily connect the new refrigerator to the existing water supply line if there is an old one. 

When you want to install the water line for the first time, you need to figure out the path line to connect the water supply to the refrigerator. 

There are several options to connect the water supply to the refrigerator through the fridge water supply line. 

You can run the water line through the cabinet, wall, or under the floor. 

Among these options is running the water line under the floor is the risky one.

If there is no other way to run the water line through your cabinet or wall, you can run the water line under the floor. 

Even though running the water line under the floor is complicated, you can do it with enough precautions. 

It is always best to run the water line under the floor before installing the flooring finish in your kitchen. 

Because after installing the flooring, it would be difficult to drill it to run the water line. 

There are also certain advantages of installing a water line under the floor.

The main advantage is that the waterline will be out of sight, and it will save space in your kitchen. 

But still, the installation of the water line must be done properly, and one of the crucial steps is to ensure the water line under the floor meets the local building codes.

If you feel running the water line for your fridge under the floor is way more convenient than running it through walls and cabinets, you must take enough precautions. 

You must ensure that you use specific water line pipes designed to bear the cool temperature of the refrigerator.

Also, ensure that the water line pipes are leakage-proof and in good condition with appropriate fittings. 

When running the water line under the floor, choosing the right pathway and location is important.

It must not be too close or too far. 

With all these said, let’s see the steps to install the water line for your refrigerator under the floor.

Steps to install the water line for your refrigerator under the floor

Here are the steps to install your refrigerator’s water line under the floor.

1. Gather the required tools

Before installing a water line to the refrigerator under the floor, gather all the tools and equipment required to do the job. 

Doing this will save time and increase the efficiency of the installation. 

Water line kit: You can purchase a waterline kit with flexible waterline pipes, valves, and other fittings based on the length between the water supply and the refrigerator.

Make sure you purchase a waterline kit with a good quality pipe to withstand the cold temperature and the flexibility to adapt to your requirements. 

Electric drill: As you run the waterline through the floor, you need an electric drill to break the cement floor. 

Pipe thread tape: Pipe thread tape, called Teflon tape, is used to seal pipes. It helps to fit the pipes. 

Screwdriver: A screwdriver is essential to tighten or loosen the valves. 

Wrench: It would be best if you had a wrench to install valves and tighten valves or other fittings. 

You will also need a pipe bending tool to adapt pipes according to your requirement. 

2. Map out the wireline path

After gathering the required instruments, you must plan the easiest and most convenient pathway to run the waterline under the floor. 

You can run the water line from the sink if your refrigerator is in the kitchen.

But running the water line under the sink would be difficult if you placed the refrigerator in the basement or another room. 

You can avoid confusion and mess during the installation process, and it is best to plan it before starting. 

While planning the waterline path, you need to check if there are obstacles in between the path, such as furniture, walls, or other electrical appliances. 

After deciding on the pathway, measure it with the measuring tape to determine the length of the pipe.

Always add extra 8 feet to the pathway so that pipes can go around the back of your refrigerator. 

The most common way of bringing the waterline to the refrigerator is by connecting the water supply from under the sink to the refrigerator’s location. 

If you have any other water supply sources close to your refrigerator, you can also plan to install the waterline under the planned pathway floor. 

3. Turn off the water supply

Now you are clear about the pathway and water supply source from where you will derive water for your refrigerator.

You can start the process by turning off the water flow from the water supply source. 

Turn off the water supply valve before installation to avoid flooding on your kitchen floor. 

For example, if you have planned to run the waterline from under the sink, you can locate the water supply turn-off valve under the sink.

Turn it off to prevent the water flow. 

Now, access the sink faucet and collect the standing water in the bowl to avoid water spillage. 

You are safe to start the installation of the waterline for the refrigerator under the floor. 

4. Prepare the water supply valves and other fittings

If you are confirmed that you will run the waterline from the sink, access the area under the sink to do the necessary preparations. 

In this step, you need to perform two functions.

One is attaching the tee adaptor fitting, and another is connecting the sink faucet and refrigerator waterline. 

If a shut-off valve is under your sink, tap it with the tee-fitting adaptor. 

Here is how you can tap the shut-off valve with the tee-fitting adaptor:

• Turn off the water supply to the sink by turning off the appropriate valve or the main water supply.
• Using the wrench (preferably a large pipe wrench), detach the screw or nut securing the shut-off valve into the sink pipe. Loosen the shut-off valve to detach it easily.
• Now, using a pipe cutter, cut the small section of pipe equal to the size of the shut-off valve. Make sure the length of the pipe is long enough to attach the tee-fitting adapter to the sink valve, and at the end, you must also have a remaining pipe length to connect the refrigerator waterline.
• To fit the tee adaptor to the valve, cover the threads of the tee adaptor with pipe tape. And proceed with attaching the tee-fitting adaptor to the shut-off valve under the sink.
• You can easily attach the refrigerator water line to the other end of the tee fitting adapter.
• Before attaching the waterline to the tee-fitting adaptor, cut the flexible pipe to the desired length. 

Next, you need to connect the sink faucet to the waterline.

To do so, you need to attach a flexible waterline pipe to the tee fittings and tighten it with the wrench. 

5. Drill the floor along the mapped-out pathway

As a next step, make a hole in a floor along the planned pathway using a drill with a ¼ inch drill bit. 

When making a hole, ensure the path is spacious enough to accommodate the waterline and not too big to cause issues. 

While drilling the floor, more dust will be produced, which will end up messing up the entire kitchen area. 

So, a dust collector and a drill are recommended to secure all the cement dust from spreading throughout the kitchen. 

After drilling the floor, attach the waterline to the space and secure it with the clamps and necessary fittings. 

Using a pipe-cutting tool, cut the pipes to the necessary length, and also you can use a pipe-bending tool to bend the waterline pipes according to your need. 

6. Attach the waterline to the fridge

After drilling the floor and installing the waterline pipe under it, it’s time to connect the waterline to the back of the refrigerator. 

Before connecting the waterline to the refrigerator, check if the water pressure from the pipe is sufficient to dispense ice or filter water in the refrigerator. 

If the pressure is low, you must take the necessary steps to troubleshoot the issues. 

Connect the waterline to the refrigerator and secure the pipe with the screws and nuts. 

7. Attach the waterline to the source of the water supply

Now, attach the other end of the waterline to the water supply under the sink.

You will need Teflon tape and a pipe fitting kit to connect the waterline to the water supply under the sink. 

Begin the process by wrapping the Teflon tape to the water supply pipe.

Now reconnect the pipe fitting kit to connect the water supply pipe and the fridge water line. 

After attaching one end of the refrigerator water line to the water supply and the other to the back side of the refrigerator, you need to seal the waterline pathway under the floor using a filling material.

Carefully fill the filling material to the hole; before that, check if there are any leaks in the waterline under the floor.

Because if there are leaks in the waterline, an inefficient dispensation of ice may occur in your refrigerator. 

After filling the hole for the waterline, you can install the flooring in your kitchen. 

8. Do the final check

Check all the pipe fittings. Inspect if there are leaks and damage.

If there are any faults, troubleshoot the issues as soon as possible. 

Now, turn on your refrigerator and check if there is smooth ice dispensing. 

Before using the ice from your fridge, dispose of the first two servings of ice.

Should I run hard or soft water for the fridge line?

You can use hard and soft water based on the availability in your area.

However, it is recommended to use hard water as they contain mineral content like calcium and magnesium. 

Also, using hard water will help to dispense sturdy ice cubes. 

If you are using soft water for your refrigerator water, take enough precautions to prevent the reduced water flow to your refrigerator.

What is the best material for the fridge water line? 

Several water line pipes are available in the market, such as copper waterline pipes, plastic waterline pipes, and stainless steel waterline pipes. 

These are the three common choices of fridge waterline materials. 

Copper waterline pipes are popular because they are durable and resistant to extreme temperatures.

But they are expensive as well as equally flexible to work. 

Plastic pipes are affordable but may not last as long as copper water lines.

Still, plastic water lines are also convenient to install under the floor. 

Stainless steel pipes are resistant to rust and last longer. These pipes are more expensive than plastics. Still, these pipes are resistant to corrosion. 

You can choose the type of material for your fridge water line according to your convenience and budget.

Do refrigerator water lines get moldy?

As there is continuous water flow through the refrigerator water lines, water lines will get infected with molds at times. 

You can avoid this by cleaning the water line regularly with the cleaning solution. 

You must also replace the water filter once every six months to get the uninfected ice from your refrigerator.

Final thoughts

Suppose you are installing a new refrigerator with an ice maker and want to install the water line. In that case, it is best to place the refrigerator in the kitchen so it would be easy to connect the water supply from the sink to the refrigerator under the floor. 

Installing the waterline under the floor is a straightforward and equally daunting task. You can easily do the job yourself if you have the right tools and prior planning. 

Follow the 8 easy steps mentioned in the article to install the waterline for your refrigerator under the floor. If you install the water line under the floor in the finished flooring surface, you will have to drill the floor and reinstall it later.

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Reference: Refrigerator Wikipedia.

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