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Random Quote: Scars are tatoos with better stories.
Does anyone have any experience with Watts Floodsafe Icemaker tubing? There is a built-in check valve at the connection to your plumbing that is supposed to shut the water off if the hose bursts (or something else happens downstream to let the water run freely such as a failure in the applicance plumbing).
I picked up the Watts kit at HD as I will be installing a new refrigerator in a couple of days (I don't need the saddle valve as the house already is plumbed with an in-wall recepticle/small shutoff valve). However, the more I thought about it, the more I wondered whether the flow of the filtered water through the refrigerator was faster than the draw of the icemaker and would be enough to cause the check valve to kick in.
So I ran a few searches on the INternet and found one or two people had issues with the connections failing, and a number of people had the check valve tripping so much they just replaced the hoses.
Before returning the hoses for some standard flexible, stainless, braided tubing, I thought I would see shat others through of the product.
"Floodsafe Icemaker Tubing", boy talk about a fancy marketing name for a check valve. Well I don't know anything about Watt's icemakers and their tubing, but I do know up here all new home sales are supposed to be exquiped with check valves on the outside taps.......most people end up taking them off because of a lack of water pressure at the hose or the valve fails.
I wanted to get away from the copper tubing because it sometimes leaks at the compression fitting when the refrigerator is moved out for cleaning and then put back. Ours did. It was just a small leak, but it was out of sight so it messed up the drywall behind and the hardwood floors under the dishwasher.
Putting the valve under a cabinet is a good idea so you can check it but it wouldn't work the way our plumbing is set up.
However, the more I thought about it, the more I wondered whether the flow of the filtered water through the refrigerator was faster than the draw of the icemaker and would be enough to cause the check valve to kick in.
I don't know if these particular valves are any good, but I can say there should not be a substantial difference between the flow to an ice maker and the flow to the in-door water dispenser... So I wouldn't be too concerned about that. However I've also used the plastic reinforced hose with the built in ends and find that a lot better to work with than anything else.
I wanted to get away from the copper tubing because it sometimes leaks at the compression fitting when the refrigerator is moved out for cleaning and then put back. Ours did. It was just a small leak, but it was out of sight so it messed up the drywall behind and the hardwood floors under the dishwasher.
Putting the valve under a cabinet is a good idea so you can check it but it wouldn't work the way our plumbing is set up.
Sweat (solder) the fittings except the one at the ice maker, it's done all the time. Stay away from gate valves and use a quality ball valve. You'll end your problems for at least 20 years.
__________________ 2003 Boston Whaler 255 Conquest w/ twin 200 HPDI's
I've never been a racist. I don't like the white half either.
Whatever you do, do something. We see a lot of water damage claims from both icemaker as well as washing machine hoses. I even started turning the water off to the house if we are going to be gone any extended period of time.
__________________ The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Whatever you do, do something. We see a lot of water damage claims from both icemaker as well as washing machine hoses. I even started turning the water off to the house if we are going to be gone any extended period of time.
Shag,
I found these units. These area auto shutoff for water if it detects a leak. You can program them however you would like and my owners are getting a good break on homeowners insurance. Works very well for vacation homes.
I had a unit save me on a leak from a toliet bowel, the unit detected it and turned the water off.
Shag,
I found these units. These area auto shutoff for water if it detects a leak. You can program them however you would like and my owners are getting a good break on homeowners insurance. Works very well for vacation homes.
I had a unit save me on a leak from a toliet bowel, the unit detected it and turned the water off.
Very cool! Thanks for the link. Looks like they are much like a water flow alarm for a sprinkler system but you can tell them when it's OK for the water to run.
__________________ The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Location: Boat,Town Cove, Cape Cod. Live south of Boston.
Posts: 815
I don't know anything about this check valve but I won't use plastic tubing and compression fittings any more after having used it on a under sink water filter and having a joint blow apart 3 weeks later at 2 am. Replaced all the plastic tubing with copper and never a problem. The connection to the water supply was with a saddle valve and it hasn't been a problem going on 15 years now.
I don't like saddle valves at all. However, the ones that I have seen fail have been on the bottom side of the pipe. I haven't seen any saddles fail that were mounted on top.
I like remodeling probably more than the next guy......use whatever you want to, if it leaks call the insurance company and get new cabinets and flooring! So what if you're put out for a little bit, everything will be new.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mist-Rest
Sweat (solder) the fittings except the one at the ice maker, it's done all the time. Stay away from gate valves and use a quality ball valve. You'll end your problems for at least 20 years.
Icemaker Tubing 
Well I don't know anything about Watt's icemakers and their tubing, but I do know up here all new home sales are supposed to be exquiped with check valves on the outside taps.......most people end up taking them off because of a lack of water pressure at the hose or the valve fails. 
