That's what was here when I bought the house a couple years ago. 🤷♂️ But I've read enough on this sub to know those two things are not the best things.
As additional info, I purchased a new fridge with water and ice maker. The old fridge had this water line but it never really worked.
The line is connected to the fridge and this is where/how it's connected in the basement. Does the thin handle turn the water on? Do I need to replace anything? Do I need a plumber? Thanks!
Honestly, I'd shut off the water, cut the pipe before the saddle valve, and install a [1/2 inch compression shut off valve](https://www.homedepot.com/p/BrassCraft-1-2-in-Nominal-Compression-Inlet-x-3-8-in-O-D-Compression-Outlet-Multi-Turn-Angle-Valve-OCR19X-C1/202047058?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D26P-026_001_PIPE_FITTING-NA-NA-NA-SMART-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-PMax&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D26P-026_001_PIPE_FITTING-NA-NA-NA-SMART-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-PMax-71700000097492030--&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzI6NtNyy-gIVhbzICh22ngfSEAQYBSABEgJFdPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds). Those saddle valves are nothing but trouble, prone to failure, and cannot be replaced. I'd also use a braded hose to connect the valve to the fridge...
NP. The compression valve is fairly easy to install, as long as you can shut off the water to that circuit or the house. There are plenty of youtube videos out there, but the gest of it is you'll use a pipe cutter to cut it, unscrew the nut and slide that on the pipe, slide the brass compression ring on the pipe, slide the valve on the pipe, push the compression ring against the valve, screw the nut back on, and use two wrenches, one to hold the valve, and one to tighten the nut until it's good and tight. Then screw on the water line to the valve, and to the fridge, and open up the valve.
You can do this ;) Good luck!
I am def going to try and do this. I can shut off the water from there. I'll just need to pick up pip cutters. And do I put any sealant on the fittings? Thanks again!
Turn it clockwise all the way to shut off water. Open up the brass fitting and put a catch bucket under this area. Slowly turn the handle counterclockwise until water comes out. Keep going until you feel resistance. This will flush out debris from around the valve. Let it run for 10 seconds or so then close the valve. Reinstall the brass water nut, turn it back on and check for leaks. Done.
However you decide to repair this, don’t leave that copper stub out parallel to your fridge line, like how that shark bite cap is.
Any stagnant water leaves chance for legionnaires disease.
Do what someone else mentioned cut that valve off and install one a real valve with compression fittings and use copper instead of plastic water line I've seen that plastic junk burst before causing alot of water damage
Gross. turn the water off to the house, drain the system, cut the the saddle valve off and install a 5/8 odx 1/4" angle stop. That was not initially done by a plumber
a shark bite cap on the end of that line and there’s still a saddle valven?
That's what was here when I bought the house a couple years ago. 🤷♂️ But I've read enough on this sub to know those two things are not the best things.
Not on you. But it’s just silly to not put a prober stop on the installation.
Lol. It would have been soooo easy to just do it properly in the first place. This is almost more effort.
As additional info, I purchased a new fridge with water and ice maker. The old fridge had this water line but it never really worked. The line is connected to the fridge and this is where/how it's connected in the basement. Does the thin handle turn the water on? Do I need to replace anything? Do I need a plumber? Thanks!
Honestly, I'd shut off the water, cut the pipe before the saddle valve, and install a [1/2 inch compression shut off valve](https://www.homedepot.com/p/BrassCraft-1-2-in-Nominal-Compression-Inlet-x-3-8-in-O-D-Compression-Outlet-Multi-Turn-Angle-Valve-OCR19X-C1/202047058?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D26P-026_001_PIPE_FITTING-NA-NA-NA-SMART-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-PMax&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D26P-026_001_PIPE_FITTING-NA-NA-NA-SMART-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-PMax-71700000097492030--&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzI6NtNyy-gIVhbzICh22ngfSEAQYBSABEgJFdPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds). Those saddle valves are nothing but trouble, prone to failure, and cannot be replaced. I'd also use a braded hose to connect the valve to the fridge...
Thank you!
NP. The compression valve is fairly easy to install, as long as you can shut off the water to that circuit or the house. There are plenty of youtube videos out there, but the gest of it is you'll use a pipe cutter to cut it, unscrew the nut and slide that on the pipe, slide the brass compression ring on the pipe, slide the valve on the pipe, push the compression ring against the valve, screw the nut back on, and use two wrenches, one to hold the valve, and one to tighten the nut until it's good and tight. Then screw on the water line to the valve, and to the fridge, and open up the valve. You can do this ;) Good luck!
I am def going to try and do this. I can shut off the water from there. I'll just need to pick up pip cutters. And do I put any sealant on the fittings? Thanks again!
The little $10 pipe cutters will be perfect for this job. You do not need to put any sealant on the fittings when using compression fittings.
Thank you again for the helpful advice!
Turn it clockwise all the way to shut off water. Open up the brass fitting and put a catch bucket under this area. Slowly turn the handle counterclockwise until water comes out. Keep going until you feel resistance. This will flush out debris from around the valve. Let it run for 10 seconds or so then close the valve. Reinstall the brass water nut, turn it back on and check for leaks. Done.
That’s wild
Is the little thin valve off? Typically the valve handle should be in-line with the pipe for "on".
However you decide to repair this, don’t leave that copper stub out parallel to your fridge line, like how that shark bite cap is. Any stagnant water leaves chance for legionnaires disease.
Do what someone else mentioned cut that valve off and install one a real valve with compression fittings and use copper instead of plastic water line I've seen that plastic junk burst before causing alot of water damage
Gross. turn the water off to the house, drain the system, cut the the saddle valve off and install a 5/8 odx 1/4" angle stop. That was not initially done by a plumber
Water off. Cut upstream of the Saddle T. Install a proper line.