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    marskekm's Avatar
    marskekm Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    May 11, 2006, 10:20 PM
    Hot Water at Refrigerator Water line?
    We recently moved into a 10 year old home and purchased a new refrigerator with a water filter and ice maker, only to find that when we hooked it up to the single water line behind the fridge, it dispenses hot water. I don't think the line has been used before now and was wondering if anyone has ever heard of something like this where the line is attached to the water heater instead of the cold water line. What will need to be done to fix this?
    RickJ's Avatar
    RickJ Posts: 7,762, Reputation: 864
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    #2

    May 12, 2006, 03:23 AM
    A hot water line that you can access from behind the fridge sounds odd, but regardless, the fix should be simple.

    You'll want to locate your nearest cold water line that you can tap into with a saddle valve, and run 3/8" plastic from it to your fridge.

    If you have a basement, it's best to tap in from there, and up through the floor behind the fridge with the 3/8" line.

    Hang tight, though, it's early. Our Plumbing Expert should be along shortly to take a peek at this too.
    bbeard33's Avatar
    bbeard33 Posts: 6, Reputation: 2
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    #3

    May 12, 2006, 04:47 AM
    Using hot water in ice cube trays allows you to make clear frozen cubes.
    Could be a mistake that the icemaker was connected to a hot water line or could've been that a plumber or former homeowner knew about the clear cube trick.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #4

    May 12, 2006, 05:14 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by marskekm
    We recently moved into a 10 year old home and purchased a new refrigerator with a water filter and ice maker, only to find that when we hooked it up to the single water line behind the fridge, it dispenses hot water. I don't think the line has been used before now and was wondering if anyone has ever heard of something like this where the line is attached to the water heater instead of the cold water line. What will need to be done to fix this?
    There's a reason we take a ice maker off a hotwater supply. No matter if the ice maker is connected to the hot or cold supply the water that reaches the ice maker will always remain the same temperature, and that temperature is set by the ambient room temperature. Let's follow the water as it leaves the supply on it's way to the icemaker. When installed we usually harvest a few loads if ice cubes to flush out any impurities in the icemaker line. Then the icemaker shuts off the flow of water to the tray leaving the 1/8th ice maker supply full of water that's trapped in the line and there it sets warming up, ( or cooling down) to room temperature until another draw is made.
    The run from the supply to the ice maker's usually 6 to 8 feet long so the water trapped in the supply will be ample to fill the ice cube tray.
    So! You say. If the water reaches the icemaker at room temperature what difference does it make if we supply from hot or cold?
    Would you believe the clarity of the ice cube? Water that sets in a hot water tank deoxygenates so that the ice cubes come out clear while ice cubes that come off a cold water supply have many bubbles that make the ice cube cloudy. And now you know the rest of the story.
    Sorry people! This is my first answer of the day and I feel chatty. Tom
    RickJ's Avatar
    RickJ Posts: 7,762, Reputation: 864
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    #5

    May 12, 2006, 05:21 AM
    Tom, if the hot water line is "right behind the fridge" then might she be getting hot or quite warm water going into the fridge and freezer making it work longer to cool and freeze it?

    If so, then it would be a matter of deciding how important clearer cubes are.

    Yer thoughts?
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #6

    May 12, 2006, 02:57 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by rickj
    Tom, if the hot water line is "right behind the fridge" then might she be getting hot or quite warm water going into the fridge and freezer making it work longer to cool and freeze it?

    If so, then it would be a matter of deciding how important clearer cubes are.

    Yer thoughts?
    The problem with having a hot water supply directly behind the fridge is that would be no reason to have one there and I've never saw a hot water supply any closer then the kitchen sink but if there was one I wouldn't use it and go for the hot supply on the sink. Regards, Tom
    MrBadWrench's Avatar
    MrBadWrench Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #7

    Dec 19, 2007, 03:54 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by speedball1
    There's a reason we take a ice maker off a hotwater supply. No matter if the ice maker is connected to the hot or cold supply the water that reaches the ice maker will always remain the same temperature, and that temperature is set by the ambient room temperature. Let's follow the water as it leaves the supply on it's way to the icemaker. When installed we usually harvest a few loads if ice cubes to flush out any impurities in the icemaker line. Then the icemaker shuts off the flow of water to the tray leaving the 1/8th ice maker supply full of water that's trapped in the line and there it sets warming up, ( or cooling down) to room temperature until another draw is made.
    The run from the supply to the ice maker's usually 6 to 8 feet long so the water trapped in the supply will be ample to fill the ice cube tray.
    So! You say. If the water reaches the icemaker at room temperature what difference does it make if we supply from hot or cold?
    Would ya believe the clarity of the ice cube? Water that sets in a hot water tank deoxygenates so that the ice cubes come out clear while ice cubes that come off a cold water supply have many bubbles that make the ice cube cloudy. And now ya know the rest of the story.
    Sorry people! This is my first answer of the day and I feel chatty. Tom
    --- I can see how some of this would make sense, however, I have one question about the use of the Hot Water line feeding into a refrigerator. Water Quality?? Is the water that is coming from a hot water heater, better for consumption then that from the cold water line?? Most of these answers have to do with ice makers, but we all know that the refrigerators also have water dispensing too [at times]. So, whether it is ice or water, would that water from the hot water line be better to consume then that of the cold?
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #8

    Dec 20, 2007, 07:43 AM
    Is the water that is coming from a hot water heater, better for consumption then that from the cold water line??
    No better or worse. It's all the same water.
    we all know that the refrigerators also have water dispensing too [at times]. So, whether it is ice or water, would that water from the hot water line be better to consume then that of the cold?
    The water dispensers have a small chill tank that chills the water that enters the dispenser. What's being overlooked here is that the hot water in the refrigerator supply line cools down to room temperature before the fridge makes a draw so hot water doesn't go directly into the fridge. Regards, Tom
    iamgrowler's Avatar
    iamgrowler Posts: 1,421, Reputation: 110
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    #9

    Dec 20, 2007, 08:01 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by speedball1
    no better or worse. It's all the same water.
    I beg to differ.

    Sediment stirred up from the bottom of the tank is bound to make it into the ice maker or water dispenser.

    I've come across this from time to time -- If doable, the best and simplest solution is to route a 1/4" cold water line from the kitchen sink cold water line (add a double stop) to the refrigerator location from either below (if there is a basement or crawlspace) or through adjacent kitchen cabinets.

    With so many refrigerators being built in units these days, we stopped roughing in icemaker boxes years ago -- We generally route a 1/4" copper line from the kitchen sink cabinet to the refrigerator location during the rough in phase -- And then make the final connection with an 8 foot braided supply when the appliance is set at finish.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #10

    Dec 20, 2007, 08:10 AM
    Sediment stirred up from the bottom of the tank is bound to make it into the ice maker or water dispenser
    But the water's not being drawn off from the bottom of the tank is it? If the op let the heater go without being flushed once in a while I guess it could happen but I have never got a complaint that the ice maker has been clogged because it was supplie4d by the hot water. How many have you had to change over to a cold supply because of bad taste or a ice maker clop?
    And then make the final connection with an 8 foot braided supply when the appliance is set at finish.
    Back when I was out in the field we also roughed in with 1/8" ID copper frrom the sink to the fridge. Can you tell me the purpose of a 8 foot braided supply and on what end it's connected to? Is it so the fridge can be moved in and out? Just curious. Thanks, Tom
    iamgrowler's Avatar
    iamgrowler Posts: 1,421, Reputation: 110
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    #11

    Dec 20, 2007, 08:15 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by speedball1
    Only if the op let the heater go without being flushed once in a while.
    You might be surprised to find out just how many people do not bother to flush their H/W tanks, Tom.

    >shrugs<

    It's not something most folks even think about until problems begin to arise.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #12

    Dec 20, 2007, 08:26 AM
    Never had a problem with connecting a ice maker to the hot water and my company has installed hundreds of new units. Not a single complaint. NOT ONE!! Over the years. I thin growler's focusing on what possibly might happen but it's never happened in any of our installations. Regards, Tom
    commonsense's Avatar
    commonsense Posts: 11, Reputation: 1
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    #13

    Aug 29, 2008, 02:16 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by RickJ
    Tom, if the hot water line is "right behind the fridge" then might she be getting hot or quite warm water going into the fridge and freezer making it work longer to cool and freeze it?

    If so, then it would be a matter of deciding how important clearer cubes are.

    Yer thoughts?
    It seems to me that by utilizing hot water you are making ice from water that has been sitting in a sometimes filthy water tank instead of the relatively pristine cold water. Why else is it recommended that you drain your hot water tank regularly? To get rid of the sediment and crud that's why. Not very smart to use hot water especially in houses over 50 years old that might have used lead in the copper line solder especially for the sake of good looking ice!! TRY AGAIN!!
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #14

    Aug 29, 2008, 03:23 PM
    It seems to me that by utilizing hot water you are making ice from water that has been sitting in a sometimes filthy water tank instead of the relatively pristine cold water.
    Let's see if I ncan make some sense out of your statement. The water in a water heater is drawn off the top of the heater not offthe bottom where minerals c an build up.
    Not very smart to use hot water especially in houses over 50 years old that might have used lead in the copper line solder
    Are you suggesting we used different solder for the cold water lines in a home over 50 years of age? That the cold water lines have less lead in the solder joints then the hot water lines? You can't be serious!
    Bottom line! If you think that ice cubes taken off the hot water supply will poison you then hook the ice maker line up to the cold watrer supply. I'm just telling you how we pipe our ice maker lines in our new construction. Customer complaints over the years of installing them off the hot water supply? ZERO! Regards, Tom
    commonsense's Avatar
    commonsense Posts: 11, Reputation: 1
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    #15

    Aug 30, 2008, 06:27 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by speedball1
    Let's see if I ncan make some sense outta your statement. The water in a water heater is drawn off the top of the heater not offthe bottom where minerals c an build up.

    Are you suggesting we used different solder for the cold water lines in a home over 50 years of age? That the cold water lines have less lead in the solder joints then the hot water lines? You can't be serious!!
    Bottom line! if you think that ice cubes taken off the hot water supply will poison you then hook the ice maker line upto the cold watrer supply. I'm just telling you how we pipe our ice maker lines in our new construction. Customer complaints over the years of installing them off the hot water supply?? ZERO!! regards, Tom
    What I am suggesting is that some plumbers DID use lead solder years ago and that authorities suggest running your water for three minutes if you know or suspect that your pipes were joined with solder containing lead. I am also suggesting that a hot water tank might accumulate at least a modicum amount of that lead, but certainly is tainted at any rate. The suggestion that water comes from the top of the tank is equally ludicrous and is like saying that you can pour mercury in a reservoir and still drink water from the top. All this for the sake of PRETTY ICE!!
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
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    #16

    Aug 30, 2008, 06:30 PM
    It may be that the original plumber didn't pay too much attention to what he was doing and ran hot water line to the fridge..
    commonsense's Avatar
    commonsense Posts: 11, Reputation: 1
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    #17

    Aug 30, 2008, 06:45 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Milo Dolezal
    It may be that the original plumber didn't pay too much attention to what he was doing and ran hot water line to the fridge..
    Someone on this thread stated that using the Hot Water line is common practice to make clearer ice. Then someone stated that lead was not used but it WAS especially before 1986.The point is that I believe the hot water supply from the tank to the icemaker is less hygienic than the cold water supply due to sediment, etc. all seemingly to make more appealing ice.

    Article - Drinking Water: Lead-Pipe and Lead-Solder Concerns - HealthyHouseInstitute.com

    According to one source you can run your cold water line for several minutes to purge any water that MIGHT have made contact with solder containing lead but the same, of course, is not true of the hot water supply. But lead was NOT my point to start with. Cruddy sediment-containing hot water WAS. After all, the cold water line cannot be flushed from lead unless you want to stand there and flush it before the refrigerator timer calls for more water.

    I ask this question: Would you tap water from your 15 year old hot water tank and drink it? That is what you are doing when the hot water line is tapped to make ice.
    commonsense's Avatar
    commonsense Posts: 11, Reputation: 1
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    #19

    Aug 30, 2008, 08:12 PM
    The reply above that there were no customer complaints in years and years of tapping hot water lines is almost amusing. IN THE FIRST PLACE, THE CUSTOMERS ARE NOT AWARE THAT THEIR HOT WATER TANKS HAVE BEEN TAPPED FOR DRINKING ICE!! OF COUSE THEY DON'T COMPLAIN! And even if they were aware of it, technicians that have no idea what they are doing would convince them that it is perfectly safe and sanitary. PROVE that the hot water tank supply is safe to drink and THEN tap the hot water line!!
    Hot water tanks contain anodes inserted into them that deteriorate, plastic dip tubes that slowly disintegrate, brass fittings that may contain lead, years and years of accumulated crud, with who knows what chemical composition.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #20

    Aug 31, 2008, 05:04 AM
    Gee whizz! I didn't mean to start a fire storm when I mentioned we pipe from the hot water side for clearer ice cubes. I wasn't aware until commonsense informed me I was piping poison into our customers icemakers.
    Not only that but our solder joints have been adding more poisen in our installations for the last 30 years. We have a epidemic here in Sarasota. The hospitals are overrun with half the population suffering from lead posing and the other half with a new disease called " Icecubeitus". You see they didn't know they were sick until comonsense told them that they were.
    I guess this puts a death watch on clear ice cubes. And we have comonsense to thank for this. Plumbers from all over the nation are converging on Sarasota to replace all the copper water pipes with plastic and to make supplying ice makers with hot water a capital offense.
    I would like at this time to nominate comonsense to head up a new department called, The Ice Cube Police or Cube Cops for short. His job will be to inspect all ice cubes and condemn any that he finds clear and not milky like they should be.
    Comon! Loosen up. Nobodys got sick yet from their ice cubes or from the homes we piped using 50/50 solder. The points you make are most likely valid ones but we haven't experienced the fallout that you say will happen and there are thousands of homes in my area that are piped with 50/50 solder and Ice makers piped from the hot water supply. Your input's
    Appreciated and noted but what do you suggest that we do for the installations that we've already built? Regards, Tom

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