If the line leading to the ice and water dispenser on your refrigerator springs a leak, or when you suspect slime and algae growing inside the tubing, you need to replace the water line. If you have basic do-it-yourself skills, you can save the expense of a service call by replacing the water line yourself. After defrosting the refrigerator, switch off the water source and unplug the refrigerator to stop water spills and electrical hazards.
Run a defrost cycle around the refrigerator. Turn off the water source in the shut-off valve. Unplug the refrigerator power cord from the outlet.
Press the drip tray on the bottom of the dispenser downward, then slip it out and place it apart. Insert a putty knife into the seam between the bottom of the dispenser and the outer escutcheon or cover plate. Lever sideways to ease the lower border out.
Insert the putty knife upward under the escutcheon from the bottom and tighten outwards to pop up the lower tabs free. Slide the cover plate off and up the very top locating tabs. Pull the plate out slightly and flip it around to expose the electric connections.
Locate the wiring harness connector near the surface of the cavity. Press the connector’s locking tab in together with your thumb, then disconnect the plug and then place the cover plate apart.
Release the locking tabs into the left and right in turn to free the dispenser, gently pulling down it to get the water line. Expand the dispenser assembly upwards and tuck the top border inside the cavity from the way.
Trace the water tube around the support bracket situated in the recess on the ideal side of the shoe opening. Use a 1/4 inch nut driver or a screwdriver to remove the single screw securing the bracket to the back of the recess and pull the bracket from the mounting post. Detach the water line from the bracket for easy removal.
Open both refrigerator doors and wrap down to achieve the lower kick plate and grille. Insert the putty knife into the right-hand seam between the surface of the kick plate and also the refrigerator and pry the ideal side off its retaining clip. Repeat on the left side to detach the kick plate. Set the kick plate apart and close the doors.
Reach into the left side of the opening under the refrigerator. Locate the water line and then pull it forward as far as possible. Hook your forefinger and middle finger across the back of the water line connector and then use your thumb to depress the red locking ring on the near end of the connector inward. Once you’ve done this, ease the old water tubing from the connector with the other hand.
Reach up and grasp the end of the water line protruding up into the dispenser opening. Lift the loosened dispenser from the way and gently pull on the old water tubing up and from the refrigerator door.
Insert the end of the new water tubing into the hole beside the lower left hinge under the door. Carefully feed the tubing up through the hole without pushing it until you see its ending appear in the water-tube bracket recess. Keep feeding the tube upwards until approximately eight inches of tubing appear inside the dispenser cavity.
Insert the end of the new tube in the retaining hole and slot in the support bracket. Be sure that the period of the downward facing complimentary end matches the period of the old tubing installation.
Gently pull the tube down from the bottom opening until the extra tube which forms a loop inside the bracket cavity evaporates. Push the bracket onto its mounting article and fasten it with the screw removed earlier.
Expand the dispenser assembly back into position. Rank the top border carefully and alleviate the assembly up until the side locking tabs line up with the clips. Press the bottom inward until you feel that the locking tabs snap into position.
Line up the cover plate and then reconnect the wiring harness plugin to Hook the 3 tabs in addition to the escutcheon in their slots in addition to the dispenser, and depress both dispenser paddles to make certain that they move freely. Push the bottom border of the escutcheon inward until you feel that the lower tabs click into position. Replace the water dispenser drip tray.
Measure the extra tubing protruding through the bottom of the door so that it lines up with the connecter without kinking. Mark the spot with a felt pen and place a wooden block on the floor near the line. Put the tubing on the block and then use a sharp utility knife to trim the end to span; make the right-angle cut as straight as possible.
Insert the cut end of the tubing into the push-fit connector. Catch the connector with one hand and then push the tubing inward until you feel that the connector locking device click into position. Pull the tubing gently backward to make certain that the connector locking device is working correctly.
Open both refrigerator doors. Line up the decrease kick plate with the tabs on either side and then push the ends inward until the tabs lock into position. Reconnect the power cord, then turn the water source shut-off valve back on and analyze the dispenser to make certain that it’s working correctly.