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Copper types

Which weight in copper should be used to supply water refrigerator

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Originally Posted by sindy 2468

which weight in copper should be used to supply water refrigerator

We use 1/8th inch ID Type "L" copper and 1/8th inch ID plastic tubing to supply our icemekers. They sell icemeker kits in most hardware stores.
Cheers, tom

Hi Sindy...

The proper weight of copper pipe for all residential and commercial water piping is TYPE L (as Tom mentioned).
When ordering parts at a home supply store you will probably want to purchase a 1/2" copper (sweat) x 1/4" O.D. compression shutoff in rough brass, 1/4" O.D. copper refrigeration tubing, and all fittings are 1/4" O.D. compression after that. Be sure to order an extra 1/4" compression nut and 1/4" ferrule in case there isn't one supplied with your refrigerator... ;)

I have never ordered soft copper in terms of 1/8" I.D. Tom...have you?? I mean, when ordering a shutoff I always order 1/4" compression stuff... what's up with the I.D. here... just curious..?

MARK

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I have never ordered soft copper in terms of 1/8" I.D. Tom...have you?? I mean, when ordering a shutoff I always order 1/4" compression stuff... what's up with the I.D. here... just curious..?

I have always been taught that AC guys use Outside Dmension for their pipes because their pipe radiate heat and cold. Plumbers use Inside Dimension because of what the pipes will carry and contain. I can see absolutely no sense in a plumber concerning himself about what a pipe will radiate as per against what it will carry and contain.
Yet, over the years, in the big box stores I started to see 1/2" fittings, (You still call fittings and pipe 1/2" and 3/4" don"t you?) marked 5/8ths.
As a plumber I didn't agree with it then and I don't agree with it now. You do agree that the inside dimension of refrigeration line is 1/8th don't you? That's the volume it will carry. Not 1/4" but 1/8th.
So what's the result? Do we up marking all our pipe and fittings to OD? Then why do I still see our experts still ising 1/2 and 3/4 instead of 5 and 7/8 for pipe and fittings? Just curious also, Cheers, Tom

Ever since I been in the trades I've referred to refrigeration tubing in terms of 1/4", 3/8", 5/8", outside diameter (O.D.) etc., just like you said, as the AC guys do it.

In terms of copper tubing it's 1/2" and 3/4", etc....

Funny thing on the big box stores...now I see them stocking shutoffs in 5/8" O.D... only confuses the consumer is all!

Just never heard anyone refer to the I.D for refrigeration tubing is all... ;)

Thanks Tom!

No problem Mark!
Copper water tubing
Copper pipe is used both by plumbers and for air conditioning (ACR), and the two fields have different ways of sizing the pipe.

Pipe for residential plumbing, or “plumbing tube,” is sold in nominal sizes which are 1/8 inch less than the actual outside diameter. There are three series (plus DWV):

•K, having the heaviest walls, typically used for underground burial.
•L, used for most purposes.
•M, with the lightest walls, used for drainage and other low-pressure applications. (Some plumbing codes do not permit M.)
My question is this.

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Ever since I been in the trades I've referred to refrigeration tubing in terms of 1/4", 3/8", 5/8", outside diameter (O.D.) etc. just like you said, as the AC guys do it.

What makes refrigeration copper tubing different from other copper tubing?
Inquiring minds want to know! Cheers, Tom

Hi, Sindy... you got good responses above. There is one more thing I would like to mention: in my area of operation, the 1/4" OD copper pipe cannot be installed in the wall. You can run it through cabinets, exposed, or through your attic or basement. If you cannot reach your fridge this way, then run regular 1/2" copper supply behind the fridge, install recessed box, put angle stop on it, and then run 1/4" tubing from there. Or you could connect angle stop and fridge with 1/4" x 10' s.s. braided flexible supply. These lines are good because they do not kink as easily as copper.

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Ive always wondered this myself. I went to college for refrigeration and air conditioning, Now I'm a plumber, same pipes, different ways of measurment. Oh well, I say 1/4 inch supply to fridge.

Sindy, you can also purchase a stainless braided icemaker supply line(looks like a flex sink or toilet supply only smaller and longer). It will hook directly to fridge supply and on the other side it will hook to a 1/4 inch stop valve.