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nahm17 · Mar 6, 2013, 07:25 AM

I am trying to hookup my Samsung fridge. It has a 1/4" waterline for the icemaker. The only problem I am having is that the water outlet for my icemaker is larger than 1/4". I bought a 1/4" OD x 3/8" FIP compression fitting that would connect the two, but the 3/8" FIP is slightly too big and slides right off. The only other compression fitting i can think of is 1/4" OD x 5/16" FIP, but I can't find any. How how i tell what size i need? Is 5/16" used in plumbing?

speedball1 · Mar 6, 2013, 05:15 PM

What Material is the ice maker line and what's comes out of the fridge? If you're attempting to couple plastic to copper you'll need another coupling. Good luck, Tom

nahm17 · Mar 7, 2013, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by speedball1

What Material is the ice maker line and what's comes outta the fridge? If you're attempting to couple plastic to copper you'll need another coupling. Good luck, Tom

The waterline from the wall is a copper pipe with a steel water valve, that is just over an inch wide, counting the threads.

The ice maker line coming out of the fridge is plastic, with a 1/4" copper end. It fits perfect

speedball1 · Mar 7, 2013, 11:06 AM

The waterline from the wall is a copper pipe with a steel water valve, that is just over an inch wide, counting the threads.

The ice maker line coming out of the fridge is plastic, with a 1/4" copper end. It fits perfect

OK! Now you got me confused, What threads and why is there a shut off valve on the line at all?
A typical ice maker line should run from the source to the fridge. Then the two 1/4" copper ends connect with a 1/4" compression coupling. How simple can you get? Regards, Tom

nahm17 · Mar 7, 2013, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by speedball1

OK! Now ya got me confused, What threads and why is there a shut off valve on the line at all?
A typical ice maker line should run from the source to the fridge. Then the two 1/4" copper ends connect with a 1/4" compression coupling., How simple can you get? Regards, Tom

My wall has a hole in it behind the fridge. In the hole there is a copper pipe with a water supply stop valve at the end of it. It looks like the one here.
Water Supply Stop Valves Supply Stop, Quarter Turn, Inlet 1/2 In - Amazon.com

My problem is that 1/4" female end of the ice maker line won't connect to the male end of the valve, because the male end of the valve is too big. I thought that maybe the valve was 3/8" so I got a coupling that went from 3/8" to 1/4", but the 3/8" was too big and wouldn't stay screwed to the valve in the wall.

Ha,, its kinda hard to explain. My problem is that I don't know the size of the water supply valve in the wall.. A 1/4" female end is too small and a 3/8" female end is too big.

massplumber2008 · Mar 7, 2013, 03:06 PM

This is something that I have never seen before, but I checked real quick for you and they do make a 5/16" OD x 1/4" OD reducing compression union... check it out at this link:

Brass compression fittings - PlumbingSupply.com®

This reducer would require you to purchase a 5/16" OD tubing to go inbetween the shutoff and the reducer and then you could connect to that 1/4" tubing.

The only other place you may be able to get your fitting will be at a local plumbing supply store. If you go in and explain your issue they should have things in stock to help.

With that being siad, it may also be cheaper/easier to just switch out the shut off valve to one that is properly sized... ;)

Good luck!

Mark

afaroo · Mar 8, 2013, 03:38 AM

Can you post a picture of your water supply stop valve (Angle valve).

And I agree with Mark that A 1/2" by 1/4" angle valve may solve your problem, see the image below, Thanks.

John

nahm17 · Mar 8, 2013, 07:09 AM

Originally Posted by afaroo

Can you post a picture of your water supply stop valve (Angle valve).

And I agree with Mark that A 1/2" by 1/4" angle valve may solve your probelm, see the image below, Thanks.

John

Here is the water supply. It has a male end coming from it. When I try to connect a 3/8" female end to it, it is too big and a 1/4" female end is too small.

massplumber2008 · Mar 8, 2013, 07:18 AM

Shut the water off and use two pair of crescent wrenches to remove the old shutoff and install a new 5/8" OD compression x 1/4" OD compression angle shutoff. If you are lucky you can reuse the old nut and ferrule (ring inside the nut), otherwise, you'll need to cut the old nut/ferrule off and install a new nut/ferrule to install the shut off. This should be a ten minute job, start to finish, once you have the new shut off!

Good luck!

afaroo · Mar 9, 2013, 04:21 AM

Hello Nahm,

As mark suggested buy a new valve and replace it if the old nut is OK just use the valve only if not cut the pipe as I have marked it for you see the image below, good Luck.

John

speedball1 · Mar 9, 2013, 08:13 AM

Am I dense or am I looking at a 1/2X1/4 compression angle stop feeding the ice maker line? If the copper coming out of the fridge is 1/4 or even 1/8th the where's the problem? I never heard of a 5/16ths connection on a fridge. What am I missing here? Tom

massplumber2008 · Mar 9, 2013, 10:17 AM

Nahm said the refrigerator came with a 1/4" supply tube and that the shutoff itself was 1/2" x 5/16" compression.

Looking at the picture it is definitely not a 1/4" size on the shutoff and Nahm said he tried the 3/8" compression nut and it didn't work so that only left the 5/16" size left.

If this is outside the USA (I am guessing it is) then 5/16" may be a popular size in his area even though 'fridge makers aren't using that size.

Hard to say from here, but I must admit that the shutoff does look like a 3/8" compression size... ;)

I'd change the shutoff out...

speedball1 · Mar 9, 2013, 03:03 PM

Thanks Mark, Yeah! A simple solution would be to install a 1/4" angle stop. Tom

Handyman2007 · Mar 10, 2013, 06:15 PM

I have always used a piercing valve for these hook ups. Someone went to a lot of trouble to install a separate 1/2" line for that purpose (*and not done very cleanly either).

massplumber2008 · Mar 10, 2013, 07:09 PM

Piercing valves are illegal in most states! Best bet is to replace the shutoff as mentioned!

Handyman2007 · Mar 10, 2013, 07:32 PM

I guess I should call the state about Sears! They do it all of the time!

massplumber2008 · Mar 11, 2013, 04:59 AM

Piercing saddle valves have been illegal for decades now in most states as they got famous for drying out and flooding houses... ;) As you said, however, some people still install them.

How about the fact that all ice maker kits come with a saddle valve in the kit to this day! Homeowners install them, for sure, but a licensed plumber is putting his/her company at risk if he/she installs it.

Thanks!