Low Fridge Water Dispenser Pressure - Plastic vs. Copper?

[franzen_torres]

When Sears delivered my new KitchenAid refrigerator, the delivery folks adamantly refused to hook up the water supply line because my line is made of plastic tubing and it is allegedly against their rules to hook up to plastic tubing because of potential liability for leaks. They will only hook it up if the existing water line is copper.

So I hooked up the water line myself. I've had this plastic tubing for

20 years now and it has never leaked. However, and for a long time now, I've noticed that the water pressure for the water dispenser in my old Kenmore was very low. Its even lower with the new KitchenAid unit.

So my questions are:

1. Is the low flow rate because of my using plastic tubing instead of copper? I would have preferred to replace it with the same plastic tubing because of the 15 feet distance from the fridge to the water pipe down below in the basement in a winding fashion, behind the drywall ceiling which have to be cut out to get to the water tap.

1. Assuming I replace the tubing with the same plastic tubing, will that increase my water pressure or do I have to also replace the valve too? The existing one has this faucet like thin handle that goes into the joint where the plastic meets the pipe, in addition to the main water shutoff valve.

2. If I relocate the water tap to another location, how do I permanently seal off the old tap?

Thanks for any help.

F

[trader4]

The flow rate for the same diameter tubing is going to be virtually identical.

I would have preferred to replace it with the same plastic

Unless the tubing is somehow blocked with something, replacing it is not going to change anything. Now, the valve could be suspect, especially if it's the saddle type. Have you tried flowing water into a bucket at the end of the existing tubing, with just a short piece directly near the valve, etc?

The existing one has this faucet like thin handle that goes into

If it's copper pipe, saddle type valve and accessible, I'd cut the pipe, remove the valve and replace with two couplings and a short pipe. If the frig doesn't have a water filter, I'd install an inline one at the same time.

[Rick-Meister]

No appliance company will hook up plastic lines--especially if the tubing is polyethylene. If you've had it for 20 years with no rupture, then someone is watching over you, or you're doing enough good deeds to offset your plumbing skills.

If fails most often right near the compression crimp at the solenoid valve. That gets the most stress from water hammer when the valve shuts off. It's also the weakest part since you probably inserted the ferrule into the end and then tightened the compression nut.

Once it starts leaking you could be looking at MAJOR water damage to floors and walls. Even though copper is at an all time high, the risk just isn't worth it to keep using plastic.

As for the pressure, if the saddle valve was a puncture type, I'll bet the small hole has calcium buildup. Shut off the water, remove the old saddle valve and snip off the puncture probe (or wiggle it out of the crimp on the valve stem) and drill the hold larger. Then re-install the valve and clamp it down. That usually improves water flow and pressure. (You may need to buy a new saddle valve if the old rubber gasket has deteriorated. Not sure if you can buy just the gasket.)