Hey everyone! I'm in the process of replacing my fridge and dishwasher, and the person I had lined up to help them get delivered can't make it today. I've already disconnected the dishwasher and most of the fridge, but I hesitated on the waterline because of some leaking issues I've had in the past. I turned off the electricity and the water for the whole house, thinking it would just be for a few hours. I'm fine with turning the breaker back on since the dishwasher is out of the way, but I'm really worried about flooding the kitchen if I turn the water back on with the dishwasher being totally disconnected. If I wait until the appliances arrive tomorrow evening before turning the water back on, could that harm the pipes? Also, I have a saddle valve in the basement for the fridge, but I've read mixed opinions about their reliability. My new fridge won't need a waterline; should I be concerned about that saddle valve if I turn it off for the first time? Should I just call a plumber? Thanks for any advice!
2 Answers
I've dealt with a few saddle valves and generally haven't had problems with leaks, but clogs can be a big issue. They sometimes get blocked up with minerals, which can seriously reduce water flow. I ended up replacing mine with a proper setup by cutting out the valve and using push-fit connectors. I haven't had leaks since then and the water flow's been great! Just something to consider if you find it’s not working well after turning it on.
It's probably a good idea to keep the water valves off for now. If they’re leaking slightly when closed, head to a local hardware store and get some cap fittings to secure the lines. You can turn on the main water after that. I'd definitely recommend having a plumber check out the saddle valve at a later date, especially if it doesn’t seal completely. They can also inspect all the under-sink valves to ensure everything’s working properly.
Thanks for the advice! I’ll get on that today.
When they remove the saddle valve, will they need to replace part of the pipe it was connected to, or do they just fill it in somehow?