Water line shutoff for refrigerator

[JJL Jr]

Trying to help my brother-in-law who moved into a new condo. The refrigerator has a water line attached to it but we cannot find the shutoff. The property manager said it should be right under the kitchen sink but the line doesn't seem to run to the kitchen sink. We pulled out the refrigerator to make sure there was a copper line attached. There is and I was able to trace it up the side wall and into the ceiling. The picture is through an access panel above the front of the refrigerator. You can see the copper line secured at the top. It's not clear in the picture but the line takes a 90 degree left turn where the insulation turns dark. That direction is towards the sink; however, I have not way to trace it from there. We cannot find a shutoff near the kitchen sink or the bathroom sink which is on the opposite side of the wall. I've check every cabinet high and low and can't find a shutoff. The previous owner stated always used a Brita so he has no idea where the shutoff might be. If anyone has any tips, I would appreciate them. The condo association hasn't been much help and my BIL is frustrated. Thanks.

 

[John Gayewski]

Shut the water off and install a valve in the line that you found.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[JJL Jr]

Shut the water off and install a valve in the line that you found.

Thanks, but that doesn't really help. We're trying to find out where the existing shut off is so that we can turn the water on. Right now, there is no water to the refrigerator.

 

[John Gayewski]

Thanks, but that doesn't really help. We're trying to find out where the existing shut off is so that we can turn the water on. Right now, there is no water to the refrigerator.

Why do you think it's attached somewhere? If you can't find how to turn it on there's a decent chance it's been abandoned.

 

[JJL Jr]

Why do you think it's attached somewhere? If you can't find how to turn it on there's a decent chance it's been abandoned.

Because the property manager said all 12 units have water lines to the refrigerator. It also doesn't make much sense that they would start the line at the refrigerator and work backwards. Typically it starts at a pipe and works its way to the refrigerator.

 

[John Gayewski]

Because the property manager said all 12 units have water lines to the refrigerator. It also doesn't make much sense that they would start the line at the refrigerator and work backwards. Typically it starts at a pipe and works its way to the refrigerator.

It could've been unhooked at any time. If I wanted no water going to my fridge I would unhook it at source and I probably wouldn't pull my fridge out for no reason. But my fridge is buried and hard to pull out.

 

[JJL Jr]

It could've been unhooked at any time. If I wanted no water going to my fridge I would unhook it at source and I probably wouldn't pull my fridge out for no reason. But my fridge is buried and hard to pull out.

Thanks for your comment. Now where would I likely find the source since, as I stated, we can't find the water line under the sink?

 

[Reach4]

I wonder if a tracer made for tracing wires in walls would work for tracing your copper tubing.

I don't have a recommendation for a wire tracer.

 

[John Gayewski]

Thanks for your comment. Now where would I likely find the source since, as I stated, we can't find the water line under the sink?

What I'm saying is your don't need THE source you need A source. Run a NEW through the cabinets, cap the existing.

There's a decent chance its kinked up anyway.

 

[Reach4]

JJL Jr suspects the line is run already, but he can't find the valve.

I think you are saying that you could run a new line quicker than he could track down a valve that may or may not actually be still there.

 

[cdherman]

Having lived in a condo once myself, there are often hidden access panels. There might be one in a closet, under a sink etc. Could be behind a dresser.

Of course, condos are often designed or built by complete idiots. The shutoff could be in your neighbors condo. Taped into the neighbors water for that matter.

In the end, it may indeed be easier to run a new line from under your sink or whereever you can hide the line. Back side of cabinets is easy enough -- just get some fastener clips and fasten the line to the backside of the interior of the cabinet. Now -- if the fridge is opposite the since in the lay out, then it gets trickier.