Ice/Water Line Feed From Water Heater Cold Supply?

[Dachd]

Is this setup (to feed an ice/water dispenser on a fridge):

A. Code-compliant?
B. Advisable?

The water heater was installed new in 2019. I read that modern water heaters have built-in check valves on the supply side, but I did notice that the supply side gets pretty warm at times, up to about the bend in the copper flex...not sure if that's just from the heat being conducted via the metal and water mass...

Thanks for your advice/opinions!

 

[LLigetfa]

I would advise against it. Hot water can back up as much as 10 feet into the cold line.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[WorthFlorida]

Nothing wrong with the setup, a little warm water to the refrigerator won't hurt at all. If you're concernEd, move the tee to the other end of the flex pipe at the ball valve.

Change the galvanized coupler with a brass one. The copper flex pipe is looped higher than the connection at the wall, thereby, it is also acting as a heat trap.

Water heater heat traps is nothing more than a ball valve that acts like a check valve. It reduces heat flow but not completely since heat will travel within the metal pipes and fittings.

 

[LLigetfa]

Water from the HWT is generally considered to be non-potable. I would not tap into it there.

Drinking Hot Water from a Water Heater: Safe or Not?

Learn about the safety of drinking hot water from a water heater. Explore health risks, maintenance tips, and expert advice in our comprehensive guide.

www.home-water-heater.com

 

[LLigetfa]

I wonder if @Sylvan has done expert testimony on the potability of water from a HWT?

 

[Sylvan]

I wonder if @Sylvan has done expert testimony on the potability of water from a HWT?

Yes I have, when a handyman ran a copper line from the HW supply to an ice maker so the ice cubes would not be cloudy.

The water heater temperature was set for under 130 deg F which allowed bacteria to thrive. The occupants became sick and had the water tested thinking it maybe lead or other heavy metals.

I was lucky to find the connection as I was looking under the kitchen sink and noticed two lines one to the dishwasher and the other to the ice maker.

Suing the handyman was useless as he had no insurance, no license and even his house was in his wife's name.

 

[Sylvan]

Is this setup (to feed an ice/water dispenser on a fridge):

A. Code-compliant?
B. Advisable?

The water heater was installed new in 2019. I read that modern water heaters have built-in check valves on the supply side, but I did notice that the supply side gets pretty warm at times, up to about the bend in the copper flex...not sure if that's just from the heat being conducted via the metal and water mass...

Thanks for your advice/opinions!

View attachment 85035

Decent installers use a heat sink rather than depending on a piece of rubber to act as a check valve.

By installing a 27" loop on the CW supply this will prevent stratification of the HW molecules from entering the CW supply

https://www.holby.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/holby-valve-DETAIL-No-13.pdf

 

[Sylvan]

Nothing wrong with the setup, a little warm water to the refrigerator won't hurt at all. If you're concernEd, move the tee to the other end of the flex pipe at the ball valve.

Change the galvanized coupler with a brass one. The copper flex pipe is looped higher than the connection at the wall, thereby, it is also acting as a heat trap.

Water heater heat traps is nothing more than a ball valve that acts like a check valve. It reduces heat flow but not completely since heat will travel within the metal pipes and fittings.

View attachment 85046

If the water inside the tank is less then 140 deg F (actually higher is recommended ) then there maybe bacteria breeding inside the tank .

 

[Dachd]

Thanks, everyone! Looks like I'll need to go another route.

 

[Sylvan]

Thanks, everyone! Looks like I'll need to go another route.

Smart move