Water for Icemaker

[Robert May]

Should I supply hard water or soft water for the icemaker on my new refrigerator. Both are available with about the same difficulty.

[big2bird]

I am quite sure you do not want to ingest soft water.

[LLigetfa]

I am quite sure you do not want to ingest soft water.

Why not? I use only RO filtered "soft" water for ingesting.

[hj]

The only reason for not ingesting soft water would be if you are on a low sodium diet. RO water is NOT the same as "soft water". Hard water will give you cloudy cubes because of the suspended minerals in it. Some sites will say not to us RO water, but my icemakers, and others I service, have used it for decades without any problem, and with clear cubes.

[LLigetfa]

The only reason for not ingesting soft water would be if you are on a low sodium diet.

Just how much sodium do you expect to get from ice cubes to make it a concern?

RO water is NOT the same as "soft water".

True. It is softer. RO filtration can affect the pH and also being the "universal solvent" that it is, can be "aggressive" in dissolving some metals such as copper.

Hard water will give you cloudy cubes because of the suspended minerals in it.

Yes, I do get nice clear cubes from RO water.

[big2bird]

Why not? I use only RO filtered "soft" water for ingesting.

I use my RO to feed my icemaker also. When he said "soft water" I assumed he meant a salt water unit.

[LLigetfa]

I use my RO to feed my icemaker also. When he said "soft water" I assumed he meant a salt water unit.

Even so, the amount of sodium that would be added to the diet from ice cubes made with soft water is so minuscule as to be laughable.

[towens]

Longtime lurker, first time poster. Slight hijack, please.

Whole house remodel, ran copper for an icemaker, figuring it would come off a RO filter under sink. Heard a few theories about compatibility of RO water and copper, wondering what the collective wisdom of this board is. Copper is buried in wall.

TIA, Todd

[Chad Schloss]

Longtime lurker, first time poster. Slight hijack, please.

Whole house remodel, ran copper for an icemaker, figuring it would come off a RO filter under sink. Heard a few theories about compatibility of RO water and copper, wondering what the collective wisdom of this board is. Copper is buried in wall.

TIA, Todd

You shouldn't use copper after the water has been treated by a RO unit.

[jadnashua]

THere's a reason water is called the universal solvent. RO treated water is quite aggressive and is much more able to attack (dissolve) things verses more common water that contains minerals. Probably not a good idea to use it with a copper line.