Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

[generator12]

Just bought an Amana double door fridge with the water and ice dispenser on the freezer door. Now the lady is asking if there is a way to fill it with her bottled water only, and avoid using our tap water. She'll do this even if it means she has to pour it in every day. I told her there's a filter in the fridge, but she's sticking to her guns.

I'm not familiar with these systems, and so don't know if her idea is possible or practical. As I haven't yet run a water line to the new piece, I thought I'd ask if anyone here has looked into this particular sort of issue before.

Thanks guys.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

Would require a pump to pump the water through the system. You could design a storage tank with a pump or make a fitting to pressurize a spring water bottle to have the water circulate. The water enters the back of the unit and is routed through the fridge to cool it. Absolutely not a gravity thing......hence the pump

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

Here is a ready made one Amazon.com - Flojet BW1000A Bottled Water Dispensing System

 

[matt167]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

The setup that I envision would be a 55mm water dispenser valve ( for 5 gallon water cooler bottles ) hooked to a hose. That might take some 'rigging' by putting some pvc or pex tubing in the drain end and gluing it up so that you could connect it to the fridge water line. Then if it was placed on a stand ontop of the fridge, it would have ample water supply pressure to function, but if you took a lot of ice at a time, you would need to make sure it was full..

Edit, Bobs got a better idea

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

LOL who want's to see anyone lifting 40 lb bottles of water to go atop of the fridge! It would end up being my job here because my wife is not capable of that reach level.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

They do make a 120 volt pump as used in campers for water supply. Use one for winterizing mobile homes. Have a preset 55 psi switch so turns off. No idea where to get them as I just found mine. Would work with any size bottle or tank. I would tell your wife she is crazy as bottled water has no regulations on purity, most is done through reversed osmosis process so would be cheaper in long run to put this system in for this purpose.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

<deleted>

(sorry, misread the original post)

 

[generator12]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

Well, I read everything you all wrote, looked at the Flojet, took another look at my kitchen layout, and decided that I'll die on that hill if necessary. Sorry honey, no bottled water.

(If you never see another post from me, you'll understand, right?)

 

[Cofe]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

Just get a reverse osmosis water system and plumb it into the fridge. It produces water quality that is better than bottled water. We have been using RO water for 15 years, and love it.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

just get a reverse osmosis water system and plumb it into the fridge. It produces water quality that is better than bottled water. We have been using ro water for 15 years, and love it.

^^^^ this^^^^

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

Just get a reverse osmosis water system and plumb it into the fridge. It produces water quality that is better than bottled water. We have been using RO water for 15 years, and love it.

Same here. Wife claims she can 'taste salt' in our tap water from the softener. I built an RO unit into the cabinets under the sink, a tap at the sink she uses to cook noodles and adds SALT to the water! Sheesh! I've always told her if we replace the fridge I would T into the RO line for her.

 

[generator12]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

Well, I tied a water line into the fridge from the house supply. She took the news well. No outburst; no crying, no threats - just a nod and a smile. So I'm okay.

I did see her messing with the brake lines on my truck though. Don't know what that's about.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

Well, I tied a water line into the fridge from the house supply.

Do you have any filtration on that line? We have a under-sink filter that our fridge is tied into and it's better than nothing, I'm using a $15 carbon filter that does a half decent job of cleaning up the water... A glass of water no longer looks like a heard of sea monkeys swimming around in it.

We also have a PUR faucet mounted filter that my wife uses for drinking water, she likes it (and I like it as I don't have to buy bottled water anymore). The PUR filters are pricey, but I don't have to change them too often as the water is prefiltered by the under-sink filter, maybe 6 months for each PUR filter.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

Well, I tied a water line into the fridge from the house supply. She took the news well. No outburst; no crying, no threats - just a nod and a smile. So I'm okay.

I did see her messing with the brake lines on my truck though. Don't know what that's about.

Good. You made a sincere effort to satisfy her so that is probably what got you off the hook. If you had balked at the start this could have been a never-ending story! Buy her some flowers and that should seal the deal.

 

[Harritwo]

Re: Refrigerator with water dispenser and ice maker in the door...

I have an RO (Reverse Osmosis) unit mounted under my kitchen sink, tap on the sink, tap into the fridge and have plenty of water. We make our coffee, Iced Tea daily and my unit makes 75 Gallons Per Day which translates into a quick recovery time. My unit is a WAT unit and they can be purchased for around $125.00 here. Filters are expensive but a complete set is only required every two years, the carbon filter i change every 6 months. I have had RO water since the 80's and would not be without it. Jacksonville Florida water is absolutely the worst I have ever tasted with San Angelo Texas coming in a close 2nd.