The hose to my ice maker fell off the back of the refrigerator. How do I shut off the water under the sink that feeds the water through this line? I've been emptying buckets all morning

Hi Meertle...

For now you should probably shut the water off at the water meter or pump system until you can find the ice maker shutoff... O.K. If the shutoff is a round handle turn it clockwise until it seats firmly... ;)

Then the ice maker shutoff is either under the kitchen sink or it is not. If under the sink you should see a small copper tube or a small plastic tube going into a shutoff like in the pictures below. You would turn the shutoff (clockwise) to shut the water off.

If you cannot find this small tube or a dedicated shutoff then you will probably need to locate the pipe elsewhere... such as in basement, or under bathroom vanity, etc...

Let us know what happens...

MARK

PS... if the nut at the shutoff leaks after you tighten the handle down then you will need to hold the shutoff firmly in one hand while using a pair of pliers to tighten the packing nut (nut handles crews into)an 1/8th turn or so clockwise. These nuts are meant to be tightened over time... ;)