Had to deal with this exact thing last year—ice maker line started leaking, and I traced it back to a push-to-connect that had loosened up over time. Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Flare fittings are a pain in tight spaces, but they just don’t quit. I spent about 40 minutes wedged behind the fridge, cursing at the wall, but once those nuts were snug, no more leaks.
- Push-to-connects are tempting for speed, but I’ve seen them pop off if the fridge gets nudged or if there’s any vibration. Not worth the risk in my book.
- Cost-wise, I only paid for the new copper line and a couple of flare fittings—maybe $25 total. Did it myself, though. If you call someone out, you’re probably looking at $150+ just for labor.
Honestly, I’d rather spend an hour sweating behind the fridge than deal with water damage or soggy drywall again. Learned that lesson the hard way...
Had to deal with this exact thing last year—ice maker line started leaking, and I traced it back to a push-to-connect that had loosened up over time. Here’s what I’ve learned:- Flare fittin...
I hear you on the flare fittings—definitely not fun to install in a cramped spot, but they’re solid. I had a similar issue and went with compression fittings instead. They’re a bit easier to work with, though I’ve heard mixed things about long-term reliability. For me, parts were about $18, and it took maybe an hour. I’d rather wrestle with the fridge than risk water damage too. Those push-to-connects just make me nervous after seeing one fail.
Those push-to-connects just make me nervous after seeing one fail.
Same here. I had a tenant call about a slow leak that turned out to be a push-to-connect that popped loose. Ended up switching to compression fittings too—less hassle in the long run, even if they’re not perfect. Ever tried the braided steel lines? I’ve had decent luck with those, but I’m always second-guessing what’ll hold up best over time.
Braided steel lines are my go-to now, mostly because I’m paranoid after watching a plastic line split and spray water all over my kitchen floor. Still, part of me wonders if I’m just trading one problem for another. Has anyone actually had a braided line fail? Or am I worrying for nothing...
Still, part of me wonders if I’m just trading one problem for another. Has anyone actually had a braided line fail?
I get where you’re coming from—plastic lines splitting are a nightmare. But honestly, I’ve seen braided lines fail too, though it’s pretty rare. Usually it’s at the crimped ends where they connect, not the actual braided part. More often than not, it’s because they weren’t installed quite right or got kinked behind the fridge. If you make sure there’s no sharp bends and check them every couple years, you’re probably fine. Nothing’s totally bulletproof, but I’d still take braided over plastic any day.
