If chilled water from the door is your main priority, choose a model whose exact model details confirm it has a tank that requires no plumbing connection, and be prepared to refill and clean it. If you also want automatic ice, check separately that the ice maker works without a water supply: a tank-fed dispenser alone doesn’t confirm this. If an integrated dispenser isn’t essential, a standard fridge freezer with ice made separately avoids the question of how the appliance is supplied with water.
If you have room for a large appliance and mainly want a water dispenser that doesn’t need a permanent water connection, check how easy the tank is to access and what’s involved in filling and cleaning it.
If you want ice to be made by the appliance itself, check how the ice maker is supplied on the exact model you’re considering. LG has documented this set-up for the GSL361ICEZ Eau’tonome, but lists this model as discontinued.
A large fridge freezer needs to fit along the delivery route, with enough room left for ventilation and the doors to open. Samsung recommends measuring doorways, corridors and lifts, taking the packaged appliance into account.
If there’s no water supply where you plan to install the appliance, first decide which feature you really need: chilled water from the door, automatic ice or ice made separately. Then check the maintenance and installation requirements for the model you choose.
Worth considering: if you want chilled water from the door without a plumbing connection; Beko describes the GN163240XBN’s tank in these terms.
The trade-off: you’ll need to refill and clean the tank. Don’t assume it also supplies an ice maker.
Worth considering: only if the manual for the exact model confirms that both the dispenser and ice maker work without a water supply.
Bear in mind: LG documents this set-up for the GSL361ICEZ Eau’tonome, but lists this model as discontinued.
Worth considering: if you’re happy to make ice separately and don’t need an integrated dispenser.
The trade-off: water and ice won’t be dispensed directly from the door.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Water and ice without a plumbing connection | Check how the dispenser and ice maker are each supplied on the exact model. | If I also want automatic ice, a tank that supplies water only won’t meet my needs. Around 43% of consumers would prioritise this integrated feature. |
| Refilling and maintenance | Check how easy it is to access and remove the tank, and follow the cleaning instructions in the manual. | I’d rather have a tank that’s easy to handle every day, even if it doesn’t provide every integrated ice feature. This would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Access and installation | Compare the packaged dimensions with the delivery route, then check the required door clearance and ventilation space for the model. | If access is tight, I need to know the appliance will fit through and work in the space available. Size would come first for around 28% of consumers. |
A dispenser can be supplied by a tank or a water connection, and its presence doesn’t tell you how the ice maker works. For example, Haier describes the HSW79F18CIMM as connecting directly to a water supply.
Before choosing a model for automatic ice, look for two separate confirmations in its product details or manual: no plumbing connection is needed, and the ice maker can be used without a water supply.
A tank removes the need for a permanent water connection, but it still needs regular maintenance. For its unplumbed system, Beko recommends cleaning it monthly with clean water and no detergent, and says the relevant parts aren’t dishwasher-safe.
Check that you can remove the tank easily, and follow the instructions in the manual for the model you buy.
A fridge freezer may fit in your kitchen but still be too large to get through a doorway or along a corridor while packaged. You’ll also need to allow for the ventilation clearances specified in the manual and enough room for the doors to open properly.
Measure the delivery route using the packaged dimensions, then check the final position, clearances and door swing for the model you’ve chosen.
The GN163240XBN is worth considering if chilled water from the door, without a plumbing connection, is your priority.
Samsung France lists the RS70F65KETEF as having a water dispenser with a tank.
The GSL361ICEZ is an example of a set-up that provides water and ice without a water connection.
Haier side-by-side fridge freezers show why you need to check the water supply requirements for each model.
No. The way it’s supplied depends on the model. Beko describes the GN163240XBN as having a tank that requires no plumbing connection, while Haier says the HSW79F18CIMM connects directly to a water supply. Check the product details and manual for the model you’re considering.
Follow the instructions for your fridge freezer. For its unplumbed system, Beko recommends removing the relevant parts and cleaning them monthly with clean water, without detergent or a dishwasher. The process may differ for other models.
Measure the whole delivery route using the dimensions of the packaged appliance, including doorways, corridors and the lift, as Samsung recommends. Also check the final position, door clearance and ventilation space specified in the manual for the model you’ve chosen.