Plumbing in a fridge freezer

cpu

Relative has just ordered one of those all singing and dancing American fridge freezers and it needs plumbed into the water supply.

There is a straight length of copper pipe which leads from the kitchen sink along the wall where the freezer is to go. The pipe doesn't actually lead anywhere and just stops halfway along the wall, I assume it was used for a previous installation of something or other.

The outside tap is on the other side of this wall and is joined to this pipe with one of those 'all in one just screw it in through the pipe kits'.

Can the freezer be joined to this pipe too? If so, should it be joined to the pipe somewhere before the outside tap is joined onto it or after, or does it not make any difference?

Is there any sort of special fitting that's needed? I've been volunteered to help put the thing in so any advice would be welcome. Thanks.

uncle_buck_3

Yeah just connect to the copper pipe that is there….it doesn’t matter where on the pipe you connect.

You can use any fittings you want but I would advise you to also fit an isolation valve in the pipe work to the freezer as this will save the whole water supply having to be off should the freezer need any kind of servicing.
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=100121&ts=34425&id=67670

squirrelz

It's probably worthwhile making sure that theres a non-return valve on the tap, otherwise you can contaminate your water supply from the outside.

I've no idea how to check, but thought I'd mention it anyway.

cpu

Thanks for the advice. I've gone and had another look and there is actually a tap at the end of the pipe like this:

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=100121&ts=48084&id=16505

so I've just realised I can just screw the freezer hose straight onto it. (I think?) I assume it will be the right size.

As for the non-return valve bit, does anyone know if the standard outside tap fitting as described in my 1st post has a non-return valve or what I should look for/do about it?

Thanks again. :beer:

waster_2

cpu wrote:

Thanks for the advice. I've gone and had another look and there is actually a tap at the end of the pipe like this:

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=100121&ts=48084&id=16505

so I've just realised I can just screw the freezer hose straight onto it. (I think?) I assume it will be the right size.

As for the non-return valve bit, does anyone know if the standard outside tap fitting as described in my 1st post has a non-return valve or what I should look for/do about it?

Thanks again. :beer:

If it's a washing machin valve you'll be able to screw a flexible hose with the correct end fitting straight to it. If it as you show you'll need to connect alength of tubing to it and then connect on to that with a suitable fitting. It depends upon the arrangement for connecting the freezer to the water supply - is it a flexible hose or some other arrangement. You can always use a flexible hose that are often now used to connect fittins to the permanent water installation.

With regards to the non rturn valve i doubt that there will be one if it is a normal outside bib tap with hose connector. Some DIY kits include them but otherwise I doubt it. You can normally tell as there will be an "extra" bit of kit/tap before the outlet.

In my view in normal situations you would not get back syphonage and therefore these valves are a waste of space. However, on recent installations they are required under the water bylaws, so you have no choice!

plumb1_2

Items needed th meet currant water regs

1-isolation valve http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=100121&ts=48084&id=16505

2- non-return vlave http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=100121&ts=62919&id=16281

3- in-line strainer, this will save any muck in the water supply entering the fridge .


4- the connection on the fridge is likely to be 8mm or 10 mm

Best to go to your local Plumbers Merchants

cpu

Ok, got the isolation valve on there already, right at the end of the copper pipe. Would the non-return valve go before or after the isolation valve?

Can I just get a double ended connector to connect them both together?

Sorry, I suppose these are pretty basic questions. Thanks for help.