Tapping into Cast Iron Pipe

[MasterPlumbersKeymaster]

Hi, I would like to tap into a cast iron water pipe so I can connect my ice maker. What do I need and how do I get the job done. I’m not a expert but I am good with my hands, details would be great!!!

[fourth yearParticipant]

It is not cast iron, it is steel and it requires some special tools to make a proper connection. A quick and dirty connection would be to drill a hole in the pipe and install the saddle valve that comes with the icemaker. It will last several years and then you can have a plumber make a good connection.

[GuestParticipant]

Fourth Year,
Thank You!!! You are right, it was steel and I found it wierd if it had been cast iron. Most replies would have just stated that it was steel and that’s it. The drill made short work of it, and the ice maker has just dropped it’s fourth set of ice cresents. If you are wondering why only the fourth set so late in the day, well, I live in a co-op and I cut thru the cement floor with a circular saw to run the plastic tubing from under the sink to the wallbehind the refrig. PLASTIC TUBING! I know it’s not the best way, but I’ll be moving in 2-3 years to a bigger apartment, my wife will have our first child in December. Some credit goes to my 12 y/o son, from another relationship, for helping me with the tools and clean up.
Thanks again for the sound advice!!

[fourth yearParticipant]

It may be too late, but the best way would have been to install a larger plastic line and then slide the IM water line through it. That way when it leaks, which it will do, the old line could be slid out and the new one inserted through it. And the leak would have to appear at one end of the sleeve or the other and not into the concrete.

[GuestParticipant]

Funny you should mention that, as that is exactly what I did but for a different reason. I dropped a 1/2 inch plastic tube under the cabinet, into the cement floor to wall, then easily slid the 1/4 inch thru it. I did it that way because my wife asked what I’ll do when we move, and I figured this would allow me to remove the 1/4 inch tubing without removing anything in the future. Thanks again for your help!!!

[Author]

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