I actually tried one of those flexible copper kits a few years back when I swapped out my old fridge. Honestly, it was a bit of a pain to bend the copper just right without kinking it—felt like I needed three hands and nerves of steel. Once it was in, though, it’s held up fine. No leaks, no weird taste in the water either, which is something I’ve heard complaints about with some plastic lines.
That said, I still lean toward braided stainless these days. They’re just easier to work with and seem less finicky if you need to slide the fridge around for cleaning or whatever. The copper looks more “old school,” but unless you’re really into that vibe, not sure there’s much benefit over stainless for most folks.
And yeah, labor costs are wild for what seems like a pretty straightforward job. Guess you’re paying for peace of mind... or maybe just someone else’s scraped knuckles.
Braided stainless is my go-to too—way less hassle, especially if you’ve got tenants moving stuff around. I’m curious, though, has anyone actually had a copper line fail on them? I keep hearing horror stories but never seen it firsthand. Maybe it’s just overblown?
I’ve wondered the same about copper lines. I’ve had one in my last place for years with no issues, but I guess it depends on how much it gets bumped around. With kids and pets, stuff gets moved more than you’d think. Braided stainless just gives me peace of mind, especially since I’m not looking to shell out for water damage repairs. Maybe the copper horror stories are rare, but for me, it’s not worth the gamble.
Honestly, I get the stainless appeal, but copper’s not the villain here. Had my copper line for ages—survived a toddler and a cat who thinks he’s a plumber. Less plastic, lasts forever if you’re not yanking on it every week. Stainless looks tough, but it’s not exactly landfill-friendly when it finally goes. Sometimes old-school stuff just works... unless your kids are training for American Ninja Warrior in the kitchen.
- Totally get what you mean about copper—my parents’ house had the same line for decades, and it never gave them trouble.
- But about the cost of swapping out an ice maker...I just got my first quote and nearly choked. Here’s what I found poking around:
- Labor is most of it. Apparently, even if the part is cheap, they charge for pulling out the fridge, disconnecting/reconnecting water lines (which, yeah, can be copper or stainless), and testing for leaks.
- If you’ve got tight spaces or old plumbing, that adds time. My kitchen is tiny, so just getting the fridge out was a mini workout.
- Some brands make it way harder than others. I didn’t realize there’s no real standard—my model needs half the freezer taken apart.
- If you’re not comfortable with water lines, DIY can get risky fast (I’m not brave enough yet).
Honestly, I wish it was just a “swap and go” thing, but between the labor and random parts, it adds up fast. Anyone else find a hack for this, or is it just one of those annoying homeowner rites of passage?