Man, I hear you on the water damage. I once got called out to a place where the “universal” ice maker kit was held together with duct tape and hope. By the time I got there, the cabinet next to the fridge was swollen like a sponge. People always think it’s just a quick swap, but those tiny leaks add up fast. OEM parts might sting at checkout, but they usually fit right and save you a world of trouble later. Funny how the “cheap fix” always ends up costing more in the end...
Honestly, I get the point about OEM parts, but I’ve seen plenty of universal kits work just fine if you install them right. Not every “cheap fix” is a disaster—sometimes it’s just folks rushing or skipping steps that leads to leaks.
True, but I’ve also fixed some pretty expensive OEM jobs gone wrong. It’s not always about the part—sometimes it’s the install.People always think it’s just a quick swap, but those tiny leaks add up fast.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen universal kits that “fit” on paper and then end up needing a bunch of tweaks to actually seal right. Sure, OEM isn’t always perfect—sometimes the install is the real culprit—but at least you know what you’re working with. I’ve had to clean up after some creative universal installs that looked fine for a month, then started leaking behind the wall. Sometimes saving $40 upfront just means spending $200 later...
