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TIL a fridge in a basement apartment can have its own special kind of water line problem

Was on a call for a leaking ice maker in a unit below ground level. The homeowner had used a cheap plastic saddle valve on the copper line, and the constant damp air down there had corroded it shut. Had to explain that basements need a proper brass shutoff valve, not that flimsy stuff. Anyone else run into weird location-specific failures like that?
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3 Comments
dakota_king3
Reminds me of a friend's beach house where every outdoor light fixture failed within a year. Salt spray just ate through the cheap aluminum housings. He learned the hard way that coastal codes exist for a reason. Makes you wonder what other shortcuts builders take based on location, right?
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palmer.zara
Saddle valves are a bad idea in any damp space. The brass ball valve is the only thing that holds up. Seen it fail too many times.
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miles948
miles9482mo ago
Wait, they used a saddle valve on a copper line? That's just asking for trouble.
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