I had no idea ordering a refrigerator is so difficult
 

Ordered a refrigerator from L's. Free installation as long as you purchase new water line from them. So far, okay. After a few "ooops" (date delivery was set, no one showed up and could not leave all day as delivery window was 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. !). Eventually able to get a new date, but was stunned to find their delivery people do NOT hook up a new refrigerator (even though you have already paid for their new water line and connector kit) unless your water hook up behind the refrigerator is no more than five year's old, and they do not do ANY free hook up if the house has a "pop out" type valve. So they take the refrigerator back as long as you "refuse" it, or, they leave the refrigerator AND the one being replaced (that we plan to put in the garage) and they stay there until you can get a plumber to come and put in the new type shut off value. Other choice, you can hook it up yourself and then (somehow ??) get the new refrigerator into it's space ! ? Now, I am not saying companies can not chose to do whatever they want, what I am so frustrated about is NOT telling a customer at the time of the sale that they can not set a delivery date until a plumber changes the valve ! When I very pleasantly and calmly asked why L's doesn't tell people so they have time to line all this up, they replied "We are NOT required to discuss anything that has NOTHING to do with our company, we don't have a delivery department, we contract that out". Then they handed me the name of a local plumber and told me they "don't make recommendations" but "here is the name and number of a local company IF you want to call them about the valve. I went home, tried to call, they NO LONGER EXIST, sold out to another company. Finally reached local plumber and got date to change valve ! WHY make things so very difficult... that's a rhetorical question.....LOL.... I'm just frustrated that I was not told from the beginning. So, I want everyone to know, where ever you go for appliances, ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. Find out who delivers their appliances and call them to find out their requirements. The appliance store may not tell you !

You just got a bad delivery company. We just bought an LG from Lowe's and everything went smoothly. We did not have a shutoff valve anywhere near the fridge but they did leave all of the components for the hookup with us. Just today I put in a shutoff valve and will connect it to the fridge tomorrow morning.

They DID say that I could just do it myself, but I have no idea how to do that, thus the mess I got into. BTY, the L employee I talked to said, NO delivery company (they were very definitive on that, the employee was "nice" but he definitely raised his voice on purpose and said " Mam, I am trying to TELL YOU, NO DELIVERY people will hook up a water line where there is the old style "pop" valves". He definitely wanted me to know it makes NO DIFFERENCE what delivery company (I'd ask him if that applies to all places !)

Had similar experiences with Lowes many years ago which is why we went with a company that has it's own sales, installation and maintenance, no sub contractors. The draw of big box stores is low price and that always comes with increased risk. I also found that different outlets sell different quality levels of what seems to be the same products since they have learned that it sounds like a duck, looks like a duck then the price is the decider. What they don't see is it doesn't necessarily walk like a duck.

and you better measure the old frig and check the new to see if it will fit.

OP, sorry you had to deal with this. Thank you for sharing. You will save someone (probably me at some point) a lot of grief.

I install all my appliances, I don’t trust contractors, but that me. My refrigerator has rollers on bottom, I can pull it out and in with little effort which I do every 6 months or so to clean coils and fan. The problem some might run in to the new refrigerator larger than old one and won’t fit in hole.

"pop out" type valve
 

Says a lot about the cheap valves installed in TV homes.

Obviously contractor has had some failures they were blamed for after or during installations. Who needs the grief. A failure can do some major damage to your home.

Replaced all of mine within a month after moving here several years ago. My home is a 2006. My new neighbors told me some horror stories.
?Recently went to look at a new home south of the 44. Using the same dam cheap valves. hummmpt

Can you help me move mine? I don't know how to release the wheels to move it and desperately need to clean behind it. I'm afraid of ruining my floor which is linoleum.

Sorry to much liability, unplugging the plug, shutting water off with push pull valve, and remove one line too much can go wrong… :throwtomatoes:

Those cheap valves break easily.
They often leak when turned back on.
They sometimes pull right off the water line because they are press fit.

Should installers be expected to replace the valve if these happen? Nope. So they refuse to touch them.

Yes, 2 years ago we had same discussion with Lowe’s about water valve etc. Sales person talked down to us and was downright rude which was uncalled for. We were not argumentative or acting entitled. Because of the attitude by sales person,Lowe’s Trailwinds lost credit for the sale. We arranged for a plumber to install new valve and ordered refrigerator online from Lowe’s with no mention of a specific store. Delivery went great and on time. The guys removed old refrigerator, put doors on new one, leveled it and hooked it to new water line and installed the water filter. Oh, and I got a 10% discount for ordering online!

Anybody have an educated guess how much is saved on a new house by using these cheaper push/pull valves? This site has been talking about this for years. Has anybody had them replaced by a plumber and would care to share the ballpark average cost. I realize the cost would vary from house to house.

Same exact issue with my new stove. Resolution was me going to Ace Hardware and getting hookup fittings myself.
Terrible 3rd party delivery people at Loews and Home Depot.

Had a similar problem. The delivery people said they do not do that and did not bring the separate stuff I had to order for the install.
In my case I could see that the existing connection would work so I did it my self. This was several years ago.

He same problem with washer, one of old hoses had small amount of corrosion on nut. The wouldn’t touch it. I said fine I’ll install it myself.

I’ve had bad luck with Lowe’s appliance delivery. Best Buy was good but the best experience for me was with Costco online. Just make sure you order the correct size. Delivery was as promised and hookup and take away went smoothly and I do have the pop valves.

Torri Plumbing replaced all of mine a few years ago. Don’t remember the cost but I think under $400.

We had an issue where we had 2 damaged refrigerators delivered and were told we had to ask for "white glove" delivery to ensure it didn't arrive damaged.... unbelievable!! So after all of the food in and out of coolers, not showing up at the original delivery date, etc., we finally received the 3rd and undamaged one.

Where did you purchase from? We have to purchase several appliances.

Thanks for letting us know.

We now buy all of our appliances from Best Buy. They have their own delivery and set up people. They might be members of the Geek Squad, but the appliance part of the Squad. Always great experiences. They will also match any lower price you have found---just print it and take it in or have on phone.

It's not Lowes or Home Depot's fault. You live in a third world state and that's what you get in the local labor pool for where you live.

I had a great experience with Home Depot and will never use Lowe’s

I had the same problem with them last year, I called Lowe’s and got the same answer .now anytime I hear someone talk about buying a new fridge I let them know about that line

I just rented truck found the refrigerator I liked compared measurements wheeled it out, loaded it and brought it home and installed it myself. I done all the measurements but the hole in corner where the refrigerator goes in my style CTV was not square. Plus previous owners install 3/4 inch tile on floor taking up all space length wise. So I had to shave off trim on top, remove cabinets next to stove, buy narrower one, cut the top to get refrigerator to fit in hole.

So sometimes it’s just not as simple as it seems.

It’s never there fault, Really! I guess I need to move to Cuba?

Too long of a story

I just moved into a new house south of 44 with "pop out" type valves. Purchased a refrigerator, a washer, and a dryer from Costco online. Everything was seamlessly delivered and installed with no issues. Costco is the best place to purchase appliances. Their prices are great and they also include a 2-year warranty on all appliances.

I would suggest that you at least replace the plastic pop-out valves on the toilets with metal quarter turn valves. You will be using these valves to replace the toilet gasket and other parts. Are you sure that your washer has the plastic valves? They usually don't.

Costco does usually have good prices on appliances, especially during their sales. Also like the "idea" of an extended 2 year warranty as most modern appliances have gone to only 1 year at most (thou realizing a warranty is only good if it is lived up to, and luckily haven't had to rely on it!). But, as for installation, I have run into the same issue on two appliances purchased in the last year, a washer/dryer and a stove. Costco has included delivery, installation and haul away in the pricing, but on both the dryer and stove (which were gas), the installer on each arrived with the incorrect size connection line. Both times they indicated they'd have to return with the correct line and both times they never came back. In each case I had to purchase the line and install myself. I reported to Costco, but I believe they are merely the middleman between the appliance manufacturer (who they send the order to) and the manufacturer's installation contractor.

Unacceptable
 

They never came back! That is unacceptable but unfortunately happens too often here in TV with 3rd party subs.

We too had the same issue with Home Depot. Not knowing about the Accor style ice maker valves, we fell for the new water line pitch. They cannot put on the new water line, the Accor valve has the ice maker line permanently swaged onto the valve. There is no issue in reusing it if the rubber is serviceable in the 1/4” compression end, ours was not. And unlike toilets and sinks, the little rubber compression washer is not available. Thus, it’s best to replace the valve. They really aren’t that hard to do and there’s a half dozen videos how to do so on YouTube. Ace has the superior shark bite ice maker replacement valve and the braided line.
As others mentioned, you most likely will need to trim the cabinets above, for the new refrigerator especially if it’s a counter depth style.

Dealing with Home Depot is no better. It’s a long story but in a nut shell we’re done with them!! Seems like we can’t depend on customer service completing an order.

Ours has adjustable feet that you use an open-end wrench to adjust, normal right-hand thread, you can loosen the foot, and then you should be able to pull the refrigerator out. I usually place rope or a flat strap behind the unit, so I have something to pull on. I would normally agree to help, but my knees get easily annoyed with this type of work. There are several handyman on this site that should be able to help you.