The Refrigerator; Installing The Water Line - GE GTH18ISXSS Owner's Manual And Installation Instructions

INSTALLING THE WATER LINE

Install the shutoff valve on the nearest frequently used
drinking water line.
1
SHUT OFF THE MAIN WATER SUPPLY
AND UNPLUG REFRIGERATOR
Turn on the nearest faucet counterclockwise long
enough to clear the line of water.
2
DRILL THE HOLE FOR THE VALVE
Choose a location for the valve that is easily
accessible. It is best to connect into the side of a
vertical water pipe. When it is necessary to connect
into a horizontal water pipe, make the connection
to the top or side, rather than at the bottom, to
avoid drawing off any sediment from the water pipe.
Drill a 1/4" hole in the water pipe (even if using a
self-piercing valve), using a sharp bit. Remove any
burrs resulting from drilling the hole in the pipe.
Take care not to allow water to drain into the drill.
Failure to drill a 1/4" hole may result in reduced
ice production or smaller cubes.
3
FASTEN THE SHUTOFF VALVE
Fasten the shutoff valve to the cold water pipe with
the pipe clamp.
Tighten the clamp screws until the sealing washer
begins to swell.
NOTE: Do not overtighten or you may crush the
tubing.
Pipe Clamp
Clamp Screw
Saddle-Type
Shutoff Valve
NOTE: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plumbing
Codes 248CMR shall be adhered to. Saddle valves
are illegal and use is not permitted in Massachusetts.
Consult with your licensed plumber.
Installation Instructions
Washer
Inlet End
Vertical Cold
Water Pipe
12
(CONT.)
4
ROUTE THE TUBING
Route the tubing between the cold water line and

the refrigerator.

Route the tubing through a hole drilled in the wall
or floor (behind the refrigerator or adjacent base
cabinet) as close to the wall as possible.
NOTE: Be sure there is sufficient extra tubing to
allow the refrigerator to move out from the wall
after installation .
5
CONNECT THE TUBING
TO THE VALVE
Place the compression nut and ferrule (sleeve)
for copper tubing onto the end of the tubing and
connect it to the shutoff valve.
Make sure the tubing is fully inserted into the valve.
Tighten the compression nut securely.
For plastic tubing from a GE SmartConnect
Refrigerator Tubing kit, insert the molded end
of the tubing into the shutoff valve and tighten
compression nut until it is hand-tight; then tighten
one additional turn with a wrench. Overtightening
may cause leaks.
Saddle-Type
Shutoff Valve
Packing Nut
Outlet Valve
NOTE: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plumbing
Codes 248CMR shall be adhered to. Saddle valves
are illegal and use is not permitted in Massachusetts.
Consult with your licensed plumber.
6
FLUSH OUT THE TUBING
Turn the main water supply
on counterclockwise and flush
out the tubing until the water
is clear.
Shut the water off at the
water valve after about one
quart (1 liter) of water has
been flushed through the tubing.
™
Compression
Nut
SmartConnect ™
Tubing
Ferrule (sleeve)