Countertop ice maker in a kitchen remodel: water line and drain?

[samuellin19]

<p>We're mid-remodel on our kitchen and the wife wants a countertop ice maker on the new island instead of a built-in unit. I've been reading up on the Euhomy IM-06D-HM, and the plumbing side is the part I can't get a straight answer on.</p><p>The write-up I found here (<a href="https://ratethepick.com/product/euhomy-im-06d-hm-countertop-ice-maker-review">ratethepick.com</a>) says it only needs a 1/4&quot; supply line, but it doesn't really cover drainage. Do these countertop units need a real drain connection, or do you just empty the reservoir by hand? And does anyone tap off the sink cold supply with a saddle valve, or run a dedicated line?</p><p>If you've done this in a remodel I'd appreciate the reality check before I cut into the cabinet.</p>

 

[Samii]

Most countertop ice makers like the one you're looking at are designed as fill-and-go units: you pour water into the reservoir by hand and empty the melt water the same way, so they don't need a plumbed drain at all. Only undercounter ice machines need a drain connection (usually a gravity or pump drain tied into the sink plumbing).

If you ever want a plumbed supply, skip the saddle valve — they are leak-prone and many codes prohibit them on new work. Since the island is open now, the clean approach is to tee off the sink cold supply with a proper shutoff valve and run a 1/4" braided stainless line to the island, leaving a capped stub and a shutoff accessible in the cabinet. Also drop a cheap battery leak detector under the unit, since island plumbing leaks can go unnoticed for a while. Plan the route now before the cabinets close and you'll have a clean install either way.

 

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[Jeff H Young]

counter top those are just portable no plumbing