I'm living in a 3rd floor condo where my kitchen sink is opposite the fridge, and I need to run an ice maker line through the attic. The previous owners used copper piping, but it burst up there, leading them to cut off the water supply to the ice maker. Since I'm in the Chicagoland area, where winters get pretty harsh, I'm wondering what the best type of pipe would be for this situation?
3 Answers
Definitely avoid running a pipe in your attic, especially since it gets really cold in Chicago. If you can, it's better to run your ice maker line through the cabinets instead of above. It’s just safer that way and reduces the risk of leaks caused by freezing temperatures.
I'd recommend using PEX for your ice maker line if you're set on running it through the attic. Just make sure to keep it below your insulation, and consider insulating it further. You don’t want it to be frozen; insulation alone might not be enough. Also, if the line is sitting in freezing temps for too long, it could still freeze, so running it through the cabinets is safer.
I think PEX would work best, but wrapping it well with pipe insulation is key. When it’s freezing outside, any exposed line is at risk of bursting, even if it's insulated. The best bet is to reroute it through the conditioned space if at all possible.