Water Valve 242252702 Replacement on a Frigidaire Refrigerator

Tired of dealing with puddles around your fridge or an ice maker that’s on a permanent vacation? Your refrigerator’s water valve might be the sneaky culprit behind non-stop leaks or an uncooperative water dispenser. Fear not— our step-by-step guide, complete with a helpful how-to video below, will have you swapping out that faulty valve in no time, saving you both time and hassle!

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Is your refrigerator leaking water, or is the water dispenser no longer working as it should? Perhaps your ice maker has stopped producing ice. One common culprit for these issues is a malfunctioning water valve. The good news is that replacing a faulty water valve in your Frigidaire or Electrolux refrigerator is a manageable DIY repair that you can complete in just a few steps. We’ll walk you through the process, from turning off the water supply to testing for leaks after the replacement.

Watch: Refrigerator water valve replacement

The information in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.

Understanding the Importance of the Water Valve

The water valve is responsible for controlling the flow of water to the refrigerator’s water dispenser and icemaker. When it malfunctions, it can lead to water leaks, a non-functioning water dispenser, or an icemaker that fails to produce ice. Replacing this component can restore your refrigerator’s functionality, saving you the hassle of dealing with these inconveniences.

Overview of the Repair Process

Replacing a refrigerator water valve involves just a few key steps:

• Turning off the water supply
• Removing the valve access panel
• Detaching the old valve and disconnecting the water lines
• Installing the new valve and reconnecting lines
• Turning the water back on and testing for leaks
• Replacing access panel

While the basics are simple, there are some important details to pay attention to like properly modifying water lines and securing the valve. We’ll provide tips and guidance to ensure success.

Safety First

Any time you work on an appliance, safety should be the top priority. Follow these precautions when replacing a refrigerator water valve:

1. Unplug the Refrigerator: To avoid the risk of electrocution, unplug the refrigerator from the power source or turn off the circuit breakers that supply power to it.
2. Turn Off the Water Supply: Locate the water supply line for your refrigerator and turn off the shut-off valve. This step is crucial to prevent water leakage during the replacement.

Tools and Materials

Replacing a refrigerator water valve doesn’t require any fancy tools. Here’s a look at the basic DIY toolkit:

• Quarter-inch nut driver – For removing bracket screws
• Half-inch wrench – For detaching water lines
• Razor blade – For modifying water line ends
• Flashlight – For better visibility
• Cloth – For wiping up spills
• New water valve – Frigidaire part #242252702

You may also want to have a towel on hand to soak up any water leaks. A cell phone can also come in handy for taking photos of the existing setup before disassembly.

Pro tip: If you don’t already have the new valve part, you can order it from AppliancePartsPros.com. Having the correct replacement part on hand will make the repair go much smoother.

Removing the Old Water Valve

1. With your tools gathered, it’s time to get into the repair. First up is removing the old, malfunctioning water valve. Follow these steps:
2. Locate the water supply line for the refrigerator and turn the shutoff valve clockwise to shut off water to the appliance.
3. At the base of the refrigerator is a cardboard panel held on by several screws. Use a quarter-inch nut driver to remove the screws and detach this panel – it allows you access to the valve and water lines.
4. Take note of the location of the water lines going into the old valve or even snap a quick photo for reference.
5. Using a half-inch wrench, detach the water inlet line connected to the valve.
6. With a quarter-inch nut driver, carefully unscrew the four water lines attached to the valve.
7. There will be two screws securing the valve’s mounting bracket. Remove these screws using the nut driver.
8. Detach the old valve and disconnect the wiring harness connectors that are connected to it.
9. With the lines detached and the bracket removed, you can now fully remove the water valve from the refrigerator. Make note of the wiring harness connector on the valve, unplug this from the valve.

Installing the New Water Valve

1. The new replacement valve will have slightly different water line connectors. You need to modify the existing water lines to work with the new valve.
2. Use a razor blade to carefully cut the ends off the existing plastic water lines. This will allow you to press them onto the new valve.
3. Remove any plastic nuts from the cut lines.
4. Smooth the ends of the tubes with the razor.
5. Press each water line firmly into the corresponding connector on the new valve. It should click into place. Refer to any photos you took to match lines to the correct valve connection.
6. Thread on the inlet water line by hand until tight.
7. Plug the refrigerator wiring harness connector onto the new valve. It only fits one way.
8. Position the new water valve and use the nut driver to screw in the two bracket mounting screws. This secures the valve in place.

Completing the Repair

1. Slowly turn the water supply back on at the shutoff valve. Carefully check along the water valve and all connections for any leaks. Tighten any connections if necessary.
2. With no leaks present, replace the cardboard access panel using the quarter-inch nut driver to reinstall the retaining screws.
3. Plug the refrigerator back into the outlet or turn the circuit breaker back on.
4. Your refrigerator will take some time to cool back down after the repair. Once it’s running again, test the water dispenser and icemaker to ensure the new valve is operating properly.

Where To Find Us 

If you need any replacement parts for your appliances, you can enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com to locate and order them quickly. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have tons of great information in our repair help section and YouTube videos to help you troubleshoot.

Stay connected with the latest DIY tips, tutorial videos, and repair guides by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We love hearing about your repair stories and successes. If you need more help or want personalized guidance, feel free to reach out. We’re ready to help you take on your next project with confidence!