EFIELD Pex Pre-assembled Ice Maker Outlet Box, 1/2-Inch Pex F1807 Crimp with Installed 1/4-Turn Ball Valve, White,

I put this ice maker box behind a 15-year-old refrigerator during a kitchen refresh, and it reminded me that some plumbing tasks don’t need to be complicated to be done well. The EFIELD ice maker box isn’t flashy, but it nails the fundamentals: solid valve, tidy finish, and straightforward installation for PEX systems.

Design and build

The box ships pre-assembled with a 1/2-inch F1807 crimp PEX inlet and a 1/4-inch OD compression outlet, which is exactly what most refrigerators expect. The one-piece box-and-flange design feels rigid, with no flimsy joints or rattly parts. The snap-on faceplate measures 6-1/2 by 5 inches and covers a rough opening of 5 by 3-1/2 by 2-3/4 inches, which gives you just enough room to maneuver without leaving you to hide sloppy drywall work.

The star here is the 1/4-turn lead-free brass ball valve. It’s compact, labeled clearly for on/off, and rotates with a smooth, positive stop. It’s NSF 61-G compliant, which means the wetted surfaces are safe for potable water. The listed working range—34°F to 180°F and up to 125 PSI—comfortably exceeds typical residential conditions. For context, most homes run between 40 and 80 PSI and supply water is well within that temperature range.

Finish is clean. The white faceplate is simple and low-profile; it recedes nicely once the fridge is back in place. If you like your mechanicals to disappear, this helps.

Installation experience

This box is set up for crimp-style PEX (F1807). I tied into a 1/2-inch cold supply branch using copper crimp rings, a standard crimp tool, and a go/no-go gauge to confirm a proper crimp. If you’re on expansion PEX (F1960) or using push-fit elsewhere, plan on an adapter at the inlet.

For the wall opening, I marked the stud, measured for a 5 by 3-1/2 rectangle, and cut carefully with a drywall saw. Placement behind a fridge tends to be low—mine sits about 8 inches above the finished floor—high enough to clear the baseboard but low enough that the refrigerator plug and line don’t fight for space.

Securing the box was straightforward. The molded body is sturdy enough that, once fastened, it doesn’t flex when operating the valve. The claim that no additional support framing is required held true in my case; I fastened the box to the adjacent stud and the flange covered the cut cleanly. If you’re retrofitting in a finished wall with limited stud access, you’ll want to plan your fastening points carefully, but the flange does a lot of cosmetic heavy lifting if your cut isn’t perfect.

Hookup to the fridge took minutes. The 1/4-inch compression outlet accepts the common braided stainless or copper line to the refrigerator. A quick tip: compression fittings seal at the ferrule, not the threads, so avoid loading the compression threads with PTFE tape. Snug it up, don’t over-torque, and you’ll be in good shape.

With the main water back on, I pressurized the line and checked for leaks around the PEX crimp and the compression connection. No drips then, none after a day, and none since. The valve seals positively without whine or chatter when opening or closing. It’s reassuringly uneventful.

Performance and day-to-day use

There isn’t much to “use” here beyond the shutoff, and that’s the point. The quarter-turn valve makes seasonal shutoffs and service checks easy. It holds pressure and doesn’t seep around the stem. The internal ball design means you get full-bore flow—no prolonged fill times or starved ice maker cycles.

Noise-wise, the assembly is quiet in operation. Quick-close fixtures can sometimes trigger water hammer; this box does not include a built-in hammer arrester, so if your home is prone to banging lines, consider adding an inline arrester in the PEX before the box. In my install, pressure and line support were adequate and I haven’t heard any pipe knock.

Code and compatibility notes

• Inlet: 1/2-inch PEX, F1807 crimp. Ensure you have the right rings and tool. Expansion PEX users will need an adapter.
• Outlet: 1/4-inch OD compression. Compatible with most fridge supply kits.
• Compliance: Valve is lead-free and NSF 61-G compliant—appropriate for potable cold water.
• Ratings: 125 PSI, 34°F to 180°F. Don’t use in unconditioned spaces that can freeze; no water box tolerates ice expansion well.

If your local code requires a hammer arrester on quick-closing devices, budget for a separate arrester in the supply line. This box doesn’t incorporate one.

What I’d change

• Old-work conveniences: While the one-piece box-and-flange is sturdy, an “old work” option with integrated clamping wings or retrofit brackets would help when you can’t easily get a screw into a stud. As-is, you need to plan fastening during retrofits.
• Color options: White works in most kitchens, but a paintable or neutral gray option would be welcome for utility spaces.
• More clear labeling on the outlet: It’s a standard 1/4-inch compression, but a small engraved notation would help DIYers avoid the instinct to use thread sealant on the compression threads.

None of these are dealbreakers, and they’re common tradeoffs at this price and feature set.

Tips for a clean install

• Use a stud finder and mark both edges of the stud. It’s much easier to secure the box and hide screws when you know exactly where your structure is.
• Cut a true rectangle. The snap-on faceplate hides a lot, but a square opening keeps the box aligned and level behind the fridge.
• Gauge your crimps. A go/no-go gauge takes seconds to use and prevents headaches later.
• Don’t overtighten the compression nut. If it weeps, tighten a quarter-turn at a time until it stops.
• Before you push the fridge back, cycle the valve a few times and check for drips with a dry tissue. It’s the simplest way to catch a slow leak.

Who it’s for

• Ideal for: Homeowners and pros working with crimp PEX who want a compact, reliable shutoff and a clean-looking recessed box behind a refrigerator. New construction or accessible remodels are a particularly good fit.
• Less ideal for: Expansion PEX-only installs (unless you’re comfortable with adapters) and tight retrofits with no stud access, where an old-work box with wings might save time.

Value and alternatives

Compared to push-fit outlet boxes, this PEX-crimp unit keeps long-term costs down and reduces the number of seals in the wall. If you prefer tool-free connections, there are push-fit versions on the market, but I tend to favor crimp connections for concealed work because they’re mechanically simple and easy to verify with a gauge.

Bottom line

The EFIELD box does exactly what I want from an ice maker outlet: it installs cleanly, seals reliably, and stays out of mind until I need to shut off the line. The quarter-turn, lead-free brass valve feels trustworthy, the PEX connection is dead-simple for anyone with a crimp tool, and the snap-on faceplate gives a neat finish without extra trim work. It isn’t loaded with extras, and it doesn’t need to be.

Recommendation: I recommend this box for anyone running 1/2-inch PEX who wants a reliable, code-appropriate shutoff and a tidy look behind the refrigerator. It’s a solid balance of ease of installation, durability, and clean aesthetics. The only caveat is for tricky retrofits; if you can’t anchor to a stud or add a bit of blocking, you might prefer a retrofit-style box. Otherwise, this is the kind of straightforward, dependable hardware I’m happy to put in my own walls.