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Plumbed-In Fridge
You've finally bought that luxurious fridge with an ice maker and water dispenser and can hardly wait to finally test its convenient features. However, it is essential to first understand that, other than plugging it in, there's more to be done before you can enjoy instant access to a refreshing glass of cold water.
And that is where a plumber comes in. A plumber can do the work for you whether or not there is a water connection to your new fridge. Here is a detailed summary of what you need to know on whether a plumber can install a plumbed fridge.
What Is A Plumbed Fridge?
Since refrigerators are an essential household buy, manufacturers have made an effort to stand apart from the competition by altering the features and utility of these appliances. Since some of the most crucial factors in contemporary refrigerators are technology, user-friendliness, and convenience, these new features now include ice makers and water dispensers.
A plumbed fridge guarantees instant access to cold, filtered fridge water and frozen ice. These features have made it a standard option in many contemporary kitchens. Most modern fridge models on the market ranging from a specific price point, now include a water and ice dispenser. This allows families to receive a nice glass of water without opening the fridge door. This feature is helpful for people who only drink cold water and for homes who like to entertain.
Who Installs Plumbed Refrigerators?
Although it may be tempting, attempting to install a plumbed refrigerator on your own is not a wise idea. Save for removing a tap washer, which is pretty straightforward, almost all other plumbing installations and repairs need the services of a qualified plumber.
This is because making errors during installation could void your warranty or damage this expensive appliance. In addition, working with the flood-prevention valves requires a plumber and a compliance certificate. Therefore, you must ignore your DIY instincts and arrange for a visit from your neighbourhood plumber to see if the installation is workable.
Installation Factors For Plumbed Refrigerators
As already mentioned, installing a refrigerator with a water supply connection involves more than simply plugging it in. There are a few considerations before installing a refrigerator with an ice maker and water dispenser that are piped in. These include the following:
Allowable space for your fridge
If you want to modernise your kitchen by purchasing a plumbed fridge, it's essential to understand that they are typically larger than their counterparts. As a result, finding a refrigerator with an ice maker and water dispenser that will fit in older homes might be challenging. You should keep available space in mind if you have an older home.
In addition, some plumbed fridge designs and sizes have more storage capacity than others. Therefore, it pays to research before purchasing to find the appropriate-sized plumbed refrigerator for your space. You should never sacrifice functionality in favour of flashy refrigerator features.
Power surge protection
Installing a plumbed refrigerator costs more than a fridge without these features, so you must ensure that it is well protected from power surges. Investing in a surge protector will protect your fridge in the event of an unexpected power outage or surge.
Your surge protector will influence how much your fridge protrudes from the wall. That is because the electric outlet also protrudes more. Therefore, you must account for this extra space when selecting the size of your refrigerator. Alternatively, you can choose a surge protector with the socket located at the bottom instead of the front.
Plumbed fridge location
If you have already selected a plumbed fridge that can fit in your kitchen, the next thing to consider is whether a plumber can run a water line to it. This often entails connecting a water line from the sink to your refrigerator for existing kitchens. A plumber can conceal the water line by running it through the walls, the roof, beneath the floor, and inside your cabinets.
However, running this connection might be challenging depending on the appliances standing in the way. On the other hand, if you are undertaking an extensive kitchen remodel or building it from scratch, your plumber could install a water line to your fridge during the rough in.
Space for the necessary plumbing fittings
You will need space for a few more plumbing fittings to install an ice and water dispenser fridge. These fittings include:
- A water filter
- A pressure limiting valve (emergency valve)
- A mini-stop tap
To find out if there will be adequate room to install these fittings while still giving appropriate clearance space, consult your plumber. If there is enough room, you may also put the plumbing in a cabinet close to the refrigerator. As a result, you will have additional space for the fittings and constant access to the stop tap in case of a leak or burst pipe. It will also be way easier to switch out the water filter.
Water supply connection needs
To install a water supply for the fridge's filter, you must have a separate water connection. It will be necessary for this separate connection to have its own isolating valve. You may turn the water on and off to detach or replace the filter. If any connections rupture, it has the ability to shut off the water supply.
To connect the water filter in the refrigerator, specific connectors are required. You may purchase these fittings from a certified plumber to guarantee a seamless connection.
Plumbing A Fridge
Australian law is stringent, especially when it comes to do it yourself plumbing. You cannot, unfortunately, install your plumbed refrigerator without professional help because of this. Even a straightforward activity might have several sources of failure if you are untrained.
Installing your plumbed fridge poorly could put your kitchen in danger of many plumbing issues that could cause chaos in your kitchen. Subsequently, you could spend more on repairs for your DIY errors than you would have if you had initially employed a licensed plumber to install your refrigerator.
All that to say that you should get in touch with a qualified and licenced plumber when you decide to finally switch your older model for a plumbed fridge.
The Cost Of Installing A Plumbed Refrigerator
There is no set answer as the installation cost of a plumed fridge could differ from one kitchen to another. Therefore, an exhaustive site inspection is crucial for such jobs. Some plumbers provide interest-free payment alternatives with no up-front costs.
This suggests that you won't have to spend anything upfront for your plumbed refrigerator. These plans will work for you even if you want a top-of-the-line, energy-efficient refrigerator with all the top features or a straightforward-like installation. As usual, you must choose plumbers with extensive training and expertise.
Is the cost of a water dispenser and ice machine worthwhile?
Having a water dispenser and an ice maker is a good idea. They not only keep you and your visitors cool on hot days but also may save you money on electricity. So, you don't have to open the fridge door to let the cold air out.
Before you decide whether to purchase a plumbed fridge with an ice maker and water dispenser, there are a few cost-related factors to consider, including:
- You might have to spend extra money. More than you anticipated to set up your fridge. The plumbing work required is different from one kitchen to another. Therefore, depending on how extensive it is, you might pay more than you anticipated.
- You might also need to install a filter inside your refrigerator, which will cost extra. Moreover, depending on the water lines you are connected to, it will need to be changed and maintained.
Installing A Plumbed Fridge With No Plumbing
The quick and simple answer is no. This is because if you purchase a plumbed fridge, it will need careful appliance installation, which might involve extensive plumbing work and gas fitting for fridges powered by gas. On the other hand, you can also opt for no-plumb models with water dispensers that do not need plumbing work.
All you need to do with these models are manually fill the water dispensers. However, if you opt for the latter, you must brace yourself for the countless manual refills, 'fridge-tasting' water, and waiting for the water to become cold.
Tip: If you want cold water instantly but do not want to buy a plumbed fridge, you can choose to install an instant tap at your kitchen sink.
Why A Plumbed Fridge Dispenses Hot Water
One of two things might be happening if water is emerging heated from a more recent plumbed fridge with a water reservoir. First, there might not be enough water stored in its coiled tubes to keep everything cold. The other thing is, and this is unusual — the installer might have hooked up the water dispenser to the hot water system instead of the cold water system.
Contact A Plumber To Install A Plumbed Fridge
If you want to upgrade to a plumbed fridge but do not have water connections to the fridge, you should hire a dependable plumber near you to do all the necessary work needed for the installation. It is crucial to hire a skilled plumber to install a water line and hook up your plumbed fridge for you to guarantee that it is done right and that nothing goes wrong. You can also save extra money and time by scheduling a single callout for both installations. It's time to say goodbye to ice trays!
