The thin line that supplies an ice maker and dispenser sits behind the refrigerator for years, bent against the wall. Over time, it can kink, harden or leak at a fitting.
Warning signs
- Ice that arrives slowly, with small or hollow cubes
- A damp spot or warped flooring near the refrigerator
- Water on the floor soon after the ice maker refills
- A hissing or dripping sound behind the unit
How to check it
- Roll the refrigerator out slowly, with help, to avoid scuffing the floor or tugging the line.
- Look along the line from the wall valve to the back of the refrigerator.
- Feel the fittings. Moisture or green corrosion on a brass fitting is a reason to replace it.
- Check that the line is not pinched behind the cabinet.
What to do if it leaks
Close the small shutoff valve on the wall pipe; if there is none, close the main water supply. Dry the floor and keep the refrigerator pulled out. Do not run the ice maker until the line is replaced.
What this does not tell you
Slow ice may mean a partly kinked line, a clogged filter or a weak inlet valve. A wet floor may come from the line, the valve, or the unit’s own drain. We check each in turn.
Plumbing changes in the wall, such as adding a new shutoff valve, are best handled by a licensed plumber.
After replacing a line, check the connection again the following day and a week later. Fittings that seep slowly often show only after the line has been under pressure for a while.
We replace the line and test the ice maker, with the price in writing first. See the ice maker repair page; the service area page shows where we work around Houston.