[shelley7180]

I have a GE Profile refrigerator, and the manual is very vague about how to connect the water supply line to it. There is ¼" OD copper tubing coming from the back of the fridge (about 3"), and I have the supply line (¼" OD copper tubing w/ about 48" extra coiled up) coming from the basement. How do I connect the 2 together? (Please do not respond to buy a kit because I already have everything that is in it.) PLEASE HELP! The people at Lowe's and The Home Depot have been useless.

[ballengerb1]

If you have a 1/4 in coming from the frig and one coming from the basement all you need is a 1/4 coupling. I'd install a frig water filter, it has the correct fittings attached to it out of the box. Just be sure you are buying a complete filter and not just the refill fliter.

[shelley7180]

Thanks for the advice! (My fridge already has a filter inside it.)

[ballengerb1]

That is great, just go to the hardware store and buy a 1/4 in. coupler. Let them know if both lines are cooper or plastic or one of each.

[shelley7180]

Everything thing is connected now, but it won't stop leaking. I placed teflon tape around the treads of the compression joint, but that didn't work. Any suggestions?

[labman]

Teflon tape on the threads won't help. The seal is between the little brass rings and the center coupling. What you can make work is a couple of O-rings. Auto parts stores are the best place to buy them. What you need is a couple 3/8'' X 7/16'' ones. Often places like Advance Auto or Auto zone have assortments. Just pick the smallest ones that will go over the ends of the copper tubing. Put it together with the O-rings between the brass rings and the center coupling. It has worked for me, and will work for you. It is important that you are able to turn the nuts on to the coupler several threads, but not so tight you squeeze the O-rings out.

The automotive companies have largely abandoned metal to metal seals, now using O-rings in high pressure applications such as powers steering and fuel lines.

This answer will not be popular with those making their living as plumbers. I am more interested in giving you something I know you can make work than keeping others happy. You can still go back to the O-rings if you find you can't make their answers work.

[ballengerb1]

If your 1/4 in tubes were not damaged and you installed the coupling correctly you might just need to tighten the two nuts a bit more. Raely will you break this fitting but its not a bad idea to shout off the supply line while making the adjustment. Its really a simple connection.