Ice tastes or smells off
An overdue filter, chlorine, or old ice picking up freezer odors.
★ 4.8 Stars · 8,500+ Google Reviews · Calls answered 24/7
Ice Maker Filters & Fridge Water Lines in Northern California
Ice that tastes like the freezer? A dispenser that barely trickles? A puddle creeping out from under the fridge? Earl's Plumbing installs ice maker filters, runs new refrigerator water lines, and fixes the leaky valves and tubing behind the fridge.
Call or text (530) 343-0330 — a real person answers calls day or night.
Earl's Plumbing installs ice maker filters and refrigerator water lines throughout Northern California, from Shasta County to Placer County, family-owned since 1998.
We install and change inline filters, run new water lines to refrigerators and ice makers, add recessed outlet boxes and shutoff valves, replace leaky saddle valves, and repair leaks behind the fridge, with no service call fee.
Call or text (530) 343-0330.
Leak-resistant lines & valves
$0 service call fee
Filters & new lines
Same-day when available
Financing (OAC)
CSLB #772565
Web-only offer
$25 OFF
Ice Maker Filter or Water Line Service
Mention this page when you call or text, or add "$25 web offer" when you book online.
📞 Claim by Phone 📅 Claim OnlineOffer ends this month. One per household.
💧 Water leaking behind the fridge? Close the valve feeding it.
It's usually behind the fridge or under the kitchen sink. Can't find it? Shut off the main water to the house and call us — we answer 24/7.
Signs Your Ice Maker Needs Attention
Most ice and dispenser problems start with the filter or the water line, not the fridge itself.
Slow dispenser
A clogged filter or a kinked line can't keep up.
Small or hollow cubes
The ice maker isn't getting enough water to fill the mold.
Cloudy or gritty ice
Sediment or minerals getting past an old filter.
Puddles by the fridge
A cracked line, loose fitting, or leaking valve behind it.
Old saddle valve
A clamp-on valve pierced into the pipe. A common leak source.
New fridge, no water line
Your new refrigerator has an ice maker but nothing to hook it to.
Filter light is on
Or you can't remember the last time anyone changed it.
Ice Maker & Fridge Water Line Services
Everything between your water pipe and the back of the refrigerator.
Inline filter install
A filter on the supply line, placed where you can reach it.
Filter changes
Inline and under-sink ice maker filters, flushed and leak-checked.
New water line to the fridge
From under the sink, through the wall, or from the crawlspace.
Recessed outlet box
A protected connection with its own shutoff behind the fridge.
Saddle valve replacement
Swapped for a proper shutoff valve that won't weep.
Braided line upgrade
Stainless braided line in place of brittle plastic tubing.
Leak repair
Cracked tubing, loose fittings, and failing valves. See leak detection.
RO line to the fridge
Run your reverse osmosis water to the ice maker.
Which Filter Setup Is Right for You?
It depends on your fridge, your water, and how good you want the ice to be.
🧊 Fridge's built-in filter
- Already in many refrigerators
- Fine if you change it on schedule
- Brand-specific cartridges
- Only filters the fridge water
🧪 Inline ice maker filter
- For fridges with no filter, or as an upgrade
- Reduces chlorine taste, odor, and sediment
- Placed where it's easy to change
- Fridge may use a bypass plug instead
💧 RO or whole-home
- RO gives the cleanest drinking water and ice
- Whole-home filtration treats every tap
- Best when water quality is the real issue
- Can feed the fridge with the right setup
What's Behind Your Fridge Matters
A small fridge line leak can soak a floor and cabinets for weeks before anyone notices. The usual suspects:
Thin plastic tubing. Gets brittle, kinks, and cracks with age.
Saddle valves. Clamp-on valves that tend to weep, clog, or fail.
Fridge pushed back too far. Crushes or pinches the line against the wall.
No shutoff nearby. When it leaks, nobody knows how to stop it.
Loose DIY fittings. Compression fittings that were never quite tight.
Forgotten filters. Overdue filters can clog and restrict flow.
How We Do It Right
Clean, leak-checked, and set up so the next filter change is easy.
Check the supply
We look at the valve, line, and pressure feeding the fridge.
Pick the right setup
Filter, new line, outlet box, or all three. Explained with one price.
Install it clean
Quality line and a real shutoff, with the filter where you can reach it.
Flush & leak-check
We flush the new filter and check every connection before we leave.
Why Homeowners Call Earl's
A small job, done like it matters, because a leak behind the fridge does.
Built not to leak
Proper shutoffs and durable lines instead of plastic tubing and saddle valves.
Water quality pros
We install filters, softeners, and RO, so we match the filter to your water.
Clean work
We protect your floor when moving the fridge and leave the kitchen clean.
No service call fee
Free quote before any work. You decide, no pressure.
Same-day when available
Calls answered 24/7. A leaking line gets priority.
100% satisfaction guarantee
If it's not right, we make it right. 28 years and three local offices behind that.
The Cheapest Part in Your Kitchen Can Do the Most Damage
Nobody thinks about the little water line behind the refrigerator. It's out of sight, it's been there for years, and it just works. Until the day the plastic cracks or the old saddle valve starts to weep, and the water runs under the floor where you can't see it.
When we hook up a filter or a new line, we use a real shutoff valve and a line that's built to last, and we put the filter where you can actually reach it next time. You get better-tasting ice, and you don't have to wonder what's going on back there. One price before we start.
— Clinton EarlOwner, Earl's Plumbing · Your Friend in the Business
28
Years serving Northern CA
8,500+
Google reviews
$0
Service call fee
24/7
Calls answered
Chico 4.8 ★ · 5,039 reviews
Redding 4.8 ★ · 2,527 reviews
Yuba City 4.8 ★ · 1,002 reviews
Call or Text Your Nearest Earl's Office
Three local offices covering eight Northern California counties. Every line takes calls and texts.
Redding
Redding · Anderson · Cottonwood · Shasta Lake · Palo Cedro · Red Bluff · Corning
(530) 244-3275
Schedule Ice Maker Service Online — Free Quote
Book in about a minute. Tell us if you need a filter, a new line, or a leak fixed. Add "$25 web offer" in the notes.
1Pick your service
2Choose a time that works
3Get a confirmation — done
Rather talk to a person? Call or text (530) 343-0330 — we answer calls 24/7.
Water leaking behind the fridge? Call for the fastest scheduling: (530) 343-0330.
Ice Maker Filter & Water Line Questions, Answered
Filters, bad-tasting ice, saddle valves, and fridge water lines. Straight answers here.
Why does my ice taste or smell bad?
Bad-tasting ice usually comes from an overdue filter, chlorine in city water, or old ice absorbing food odors in the freezer. Start by replacing the filter and throwing out the old ice. If the taste returns, an inline filter on the supply line or a reverse osmosis line to the refrigerator can improve water quality at the source.
How often should I change my ice maker or refrigerator water filter?
Many refrigerator and inline filters are rated for about six months, but follow the manufacturer's schedule for your filter. Change it sooner if the dispenser slows down, the ice gets smaller, or the taste changes. Filters that stay in too long lose their ability to reduce chlorine and other contaminants and can restrict water flow.
Do I need an inline filter if my refrigerator already has one?
Not always. If your refrigerator has a built-in filter you keep changing, it may be enough. An inline filter helps when the refrigerator has no filter, when the built-in filter is hard to find or expensive, or when you want extra filtration. Doubling filters can reduce flow, so some refrigerators use a bypass plug when an inline filter is installed.
Why is my ice maker making small ice cubes or no ice?
Small or hollow cubes and slow ice production often mean the ice maker is not getting enough water. Common causes are a clogged filter, a kinked or crushed supply line, a partly closed or failing shutoff valve, or low water pressure. If the water supply checks out, the refrigerator's inlet valve or ice maker may need appliance service.
What is a saddle valve and should it be replaced?
A saddle valve clamps onto a water pipe and pierces it to feed a refrigerator or ice maker. They were common for decades but often leak or clog over time, and many refrigerator manufacturers advise against piercing-type valves. Replacing one with a proper shutoff valve and a quality supply line is a simple way to prevent a kitchen leak.
What kind of water line is best for a refrigerator?
Braided stainless steel or copper lines are more durable than thin plastic tubing, which can crack, kink, or get crushed when the refrigerator is pushed back. A recessed ice maker outlet box with its own shutoff valve keeps the connection protected and makes it easy to turn off the water when the refrigerator is moved or replaced.
Can you run a water line to a refrigerator that doesn't have one?
Usually, yes. We can tap into a nearby cold water line under the sink, through the wall, or from the crawlspace or garage, and install a recessed outlet box behind the refrigerator. The best route depends on where the refrigerator sits and what is behind the wall. We look at the layout and quote the job before any work begins.
How much does an ice maker filter or water line installation cost?
It depends on the job. Changing a filter or adding an inline filter to an existing line is a small job, while running a new line with an outlet box takes more work. We look at your setup, explain your options, and give you one upfront price. There's no service call fee, and online customers get $25 off.