How much did you pay to fix your fridge's ice maker?

I hear you on the kitchen floods - that’s a nightmare. But honestly, I went with a reinforced plastic line when I did my last replacement. The old one lasted 12 years without a hitch, and I just couldn’t justify tossing it for steel. Maybe I’m tempting fate... but so far, so good.

- Reinforced plastic lines can definitely last a long time - 12 years is solid.
- I’ve seen both plastic and braided steel lines fail, but the steel ones usually give you a bit more warning (like a slow leak instead of a sudden burst).
- If you’ve got easy access and check for leaks now and then, plastic isn’t a bad call.
- One thing I always mention: make sure the connections are tight but not overtightened - seen more leaks from cracked fittings than from the line itself.
- Personally, I swapped to steel after a client’s line split overnight... but if yours is holding up, no need to fix what isn’t broken.

I’ve seen a lot of folks stick with plastic lines for years without any issues, especially if they’re careful about checking for leaks and not cranking down too hard on the fittings. Twelve years is a pretty good run, honestly. I do lean toward braided steel myself, just for that extra peace of mind - had a customer once whose plastic line split right at the connection and flooded half their kitchen overnight. That’s not super common, but it’s enough to make you think twice.

One thing I notice is people sometimes blame the line when it’s actually the fitting that cracks from being overtightened. Hand-tight plus a little nudge with a wrench is usually plenty. Too much torque and you’re asking for trouble, no matter what material you’re using.

Curious - did anyone here ever have to replace the shutoff valve along with the line? I’ve run into a few where the old saddle valves started leaking after messing with the connections. Sometimes that ends up being more of a hassle (and cost) than swapping out the line itself. Wondering if that’s been an issue for others or if I just have bad luck with old houses...

Curious - did anyone here ever have to replace the shutoff valve along with the line? I’ve run into a few where the old saddle valves started leaking after messing with the connections.

Yeah, I’ve seen those saddle valves get pretty sketchy when you start messing around with them, especially in older places. Sometimes they just won’t seal up again after being disturbed. I always wonder if it’s worth swapping to a proper ball valve instead of risking a slow leak down the road. Anyone else feel like the cost of replacing the valve is worth the peace of mind, or am I just being overly cautious?

Swapping out those old saddle valves is just good practice, honestly. I’ve seen way too many of them start leaking after you touch them, especially once they’re a decade or two old. Ball valves are just more reliable - worth the few extra bucks for peace of mind, in my opinion. Ever had one of those leaks go unnoticed behind the fridge for a while? That cleanup can cost a lot more than just replacing the valve up front... Curious if anyone’s ever had to deal with water damage from one of those slow leaks?