That $12 'universal' ice maker connector nearly flooded my kitchen

I thought I was saving a few bucks buying a generic plastic saddle valve from the hardware store instead of the actual Whirlpool kit. Installed it on a customers fridge last Wednesday and by Friday morning they called me with water running down the wall. The plastic threads cracked under pressure and leaked all over their laminate floor. I spent 3 hours ripping out the waterlogged baseboard and replacing it with the right brass fitting. Has anyone else had cheap plastic connectors fail on them or was this just bad luck?

2 comments

2 Comments

shanem3720d ago

Three hours ripping out waterlogged baseboard? That's a NIGHTMARE scenario, I can't believe a $12 part caused that much destruction. Those saddle valves with the plastic threads are basically asking for trouble, I've seen them crack just from tightening too hard. You got lucky it was only three hours and not a full floor replacement.

shane_fisher3720d ago

Swapping those saddle valves for a quarter-turn shutoff with compression fittings saved my basement last year. I even put a cheap leak detector mat under the new valve, cost like 15 bucks at the hardware store. The old plastic ones always seem fine until you bump them with a mop or something, then it's a slow drip you don't catch for days. Those compression fittings are way more forgiving if you over-tighten a hair too. Took me maybe an hour to swap everything out, and I'm no plumber by any means.