Turning off the main water supply to your refrigerator is likely easier than you may think. Whether you're prepping for a repair , tackling a leak, installing a new fridge or simply adjusting the ice maker , use this step-by-step guide to learn how to turn off water to the fridge.
Taking the time to complete some simple steps before you turn off the water—like cutting power to the ice maker and shutting off the fridge—can help keep this process running smoothly.
To prepare to shut off the water:
Turn off your ice maker: Your ice maker may have a wire shut-off arm, an “On/Off” switch underneath, a switch on the freezer wall beside the ice maker (visible only when the ice bin has been removed) or some other mechanism to turn it off. Check your model-specific owner’s manual for instructions.
Your home’s water line shut-off valve should look like a handle attached to a pipe. The handle can vary, but is likely one of two common types: a gate valve, which has a round handwheel you turn, or a ball valve, which features a lever you rotate.
The shut-off valve’s placement can depend on your kitchen layout and fridge model, but it’s usually near the cold-water supply line. See the list of common locations below and, if you don’t spot it in one of these places, grab a helping hand to slide the fridge forward and follow the copper or braided steel refrigerator water line to its source. The shut-off valve could be:
Under the kitchen sink
In a basement or crawl space
In a cabinet near the fridge
Maintaining your refrigerator helps give it the boost it needs to keep powering through year after year. Whether you need a new water line, fresh filters , an ice maker kit or even an upgrade like sleek new handles, Maytag brand has the parts and accessories to help keep your fridge looking and working its best.
With the refrigerator powered down and your ice maker in the “off” position, you’re ready to learn how to turn off a fridge water line. Follow the three-step process below to help get the job done.
Clear away any items obstructing the valve, ensuring you have enough room to access and adjust the knob.
For gate valves (resembling a hand wheel), turn the valve clockwise until it stops rotating. If your water line uses a ball valve (resembling a lever), rotate the handle 90 degrees until it's perpendicular to the pipe.
Now that you’ve successfully learned how to turn off the water supply to the fridge, the tricky part is behind you. Turning it back on is quick and easy. Just head back to the shut-off valve—if it’s a gate valve, turn it counterclockwise until it stops. If it’s a ball valve with a lever, rotate it 90 degrees until it’s parallel with the pipe. Then you’re ready to turn your ice maker and your power back on.
Maytag ® refrigerators with the Store-N-Door ® Ice Dispensing System churn out ice all year round and free up shelf space in your fridge for more of your favorites
You can rely on a Maytag ® refrigerator to keep your food cold while making it easy to fit and find your favorites. The Store-N-Door ® Ice Dispensing System on select models frees up shelf space in your refrigerator for more of what you love. With the LED Light Tower on select models, you can find whatever you’re looking for with corner-to-corner lighting on every shelf. Plus, select Maytag ® refrigerators feature an Arctic Blue Interior that turns your fridge into a statement piece and makes the cold look cooler.
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