Stainless side-by-side refrigerator in a kitchen with wood cabinets
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Installing a factory ice maker kit in an 'ice maker ready' refrigerator (top-freezer, bottom-freezer, side-by-side)

Many lower-priced refrigerators ship with the wiring, fill-tube opening and valve mounting holes in place but no ice maker or water valve. The brand sells a matching kit (ice maker, inlet valve, tubing, clips, sometimes a bin and cover). The job is: unplug, open the freezer-wall wiring/fill-tube cover, mount the ice maker on the provided screws or bracket and plug it into the harness, mount the water valve on the back of the cabinet in the pre-made holes, connect the valve-to-fill-tube tubing, then run a house water line to the valve with a service loop. Use the kit made for that brand and cabinet size; kits are not universal.

Cross-checked ~75 min moderateBrands: Whirlpool, Frigidaire, GE, All

Before you start

  • Unplug the refrigerator before opening the rear access cover or connecting the water valve; both kit instructions require it
  • Connect only to a potable cold-water supply
  • Do not route water tubing where it can freeze
  • Wear gloves around the rear access cover and condenser area; edges are sharp

Diagnostic steps

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Installing a factory ice maker kit in an 'ice maker ready' refrigerator (top-freezer, bottom-freezer, side-by-side) · OnCall Tech