I'm having some trouble with the water line feeding my refrigerator. The water flow is super slow, and since my fridge is upstairs, I'm concerned that compression fittings and a narrow copper tube might be clogging the line. I currently have some compression fittings that pierce the copper pipe, but I'm thinking of replacing them with soldered copper instead. I have some experience with soldering, but I'm not a plumbing expert. The run is about 5 feet from the unfinished basement to the wall where the fridge is. Will using a copper fastener strap in the wall behind the fridge be enough to support the pipe? Here's my plan:
1. Turn off the water and drain the line.
2. Cut out the section of the pipe with fittings.
3. Install a copper Tee and new copper pipe.
4. Run the copper along the rafters and up into the wall behind the fridge.
5. Create a hole in the drywall upstairs for a water outlet.
6. Connect the pipe to the outlet box.
7. Mount the outlet box and reconnect the fridge.
8. Turn the water back on.
Any thoughts or suggestions on this plan? Should I perhaps start from the fridge and work backwards instead?
2 Answers
I suggest putting a water supply shutoff valve in a convenient spot in the basement before the line runs up through the ceiling. It’ll make things much easier if you need to turn the water off in the future!
Saddle valves are pretty unreliable and can potentially cause flooding, plus they usually don't meet code standards. It might be a good idea to replace those with a proper 1/4” soldered valve before making any other changes. A 1/4” line is also standard for refrigerators, so it’s unlikely that the line size is your main issue. If you’re experiencing buildup, I’d recommend installing some whole house filters in addition to this fix. You can grab a reliable valve from places like SupplyHouse, just make sure it suits your setup!
I didn't know they weren't code compliant. If I just chop those out and install a standard valve, should that solve my issue?
If you find stuff building up in the lines, it might be worth diagnosing further. When you disconnect the copper, look for any visible debris or mineral buildup—that could give you clues!
That sounds totally reasonable. I'll definitely implement that!