Best way to connect two 1/4" copper tubings

[Wade Lippman]

I just got a new refrigerator. The water line is 20' of 1/4" copper tubing; 10' is in the basement and 10' behind the fridge. It comes in on the left, made a few clockwise loops and attached to the water inlet on the right. The new refrigerator has the inlet on the left so the installer beat the heck out it to get it to come around. It is probably fine, but a few years ago I had a flooded kitchen from a broken ice maker; I don't want to go through that because of a broken water line, so I figure it is time to replace it.

The 10' in the basement hasn't been bent since it was installed, so I figure that is fine and happen to have 10' of unused tubing I bought at a garage sale years ago. I was going to cut the existing tubing off at about the floor (probably just below, so I see the joint) and connecting it to the new tubing. The question is how.

1) Flare to flare fittings. I have never done a flare fitting, but have the tool and it looks easy enough. Fittings would be $5.
2) Sharkbite. Never used that either, but it would be an awful lot easier than a flare to flare. Also $5.
3) Compression to compression fitting. I have done plenty of these, but am told that flare is much better, so I guess I should scratch this one out.
4) Sweat union. I have done lots of these, but never 1/4" or soft tubing. Any big differences from 1/2" hard copper? $1
5) Sweat 90. Since the tube and the water inlet are both on the left, the copper will have to be bent to accommodate that. I thought of moving the tube to the right side, but that would be complicated and put some wear on it. But a sweat 90 will allow a simple counterclockwise bend to the tubing, but it would require putting the joint behind the fridge rather than in the basement; but a sweat joint can't leak so it doesn't matter. (does it?) $2

I hate choices. Any of these would work; having to decide among 5 drives me crazy; so any advice would be appreciated.
My wife would just assume the installer knew what he was doing and forget about it. If it leaks later on; well that happens.

Oh, #6; toss all the copper and get 20' of new copper $20, #7 or 20' of braided steel. $30.

[James Pallas]

For as little as 1/4 copper costs run a whole new line. The fewer joints rule applies here. You will already have the joint at the fridge. Leave enough of a loop too make it easy to move the fridge in and out with no strain on the tubing. If the tube is exposed in the basement it's worth it to me to put an accessible shut off valve in the basement, I did that. Gives a quick way to shut it off if it happens to leak or you need to move the fridge.
Jim
PS I also advise not using one of those clamp on shut offs in the basement. Just another potential leak.

[Lee Schierer]

No reason not to use compression to compression fittings. If installed and tightened correctly you should have not leaks. The worst thing you can do is over tighten them. Don't use any lubricant, pipe sealant or tape. Remember: Insert the tubing through the nut through the ferrule and all the way into the fitting. Then finger tighten the nut and no more than one full turn after it is finger tight. Use open end wrenches not pliers or pipe wrenches.

[roger wiegand]

My order of priorities:

1) Run a new full length pipe with no joint
2) If (and only if) you can cut the pipe keeping it perfectly round, and can find the correct union, sweat a joint
3) If the joint is both out where you can see it and someplace where it won't get moved around, use a compression union.

[Kev Williams]

I've never had a problem with any of your choices, flare, compression, Sharkbite, they all work fine.

[Frank Pratt]

Just don't use plastic tubing. Ugh. The stuff is literally a disaster waiting to happen.

[George Yetka]

Flare is better if you are running 400 psi to the fridge but otherwise compression will be fine

[Bill Dufour]

Cut it a little above the floor and transition to braided stainless hose above. install a blowout preventer valve either at the start of the run or above the floor.
Bill D.

[Ole Anderson]

Unless it is impossible to get to, run new copper all the way. Got chewed out by a HVAC guy (complex radiant heat boiler with 6 loops and a water heater run off the boiler) for using a piercing tap to run water to the humidifier. He yanked it out and used a copper press fit tee and valve. All copper, no solder. The fittings are crimped similar to PEX, but with o-rings in the fittings.

[Steve Clardy]

Nothing wrong with compression to compression. 90's are available....

Also, nothing wrong with plastic, unless a rat decides to chew on it. :rolleyes:

[Bruce Wrenn]

For me, it would be either compression, or soldier. For soldiering, find some LACO brand flux. It's self cleaning when the heat is applied. Be sure and wipe excess off with a damp rag after soldiering.

[Wade Lippman]

Cut it a little above the floor and transition to braided stainless hose above. install a blowout preventer valve either at the start of the run or above the floor.
Bill D.

I googled "blowout preventer valve" and found it is used in oil wells. What is it with water lines?

I have 8' of braided steel I bought at a garage sale 10 years ago. Assuming it does not fail immediately (and that is why it was for sale) is it likely to be okay, or should I toss it and buy new?

[Sam Murdoch]

The braided line make so much good sense behind a refrigerator or DW - any appliance that might require being pulled in and out of its opening for service. A coil of copper behind the appliance, though standard once upon a time, is - to my way of thinking - such a substandard solution now that braided lines are readily available in different dia. and lengths. Copper below - braided above - a cheap money fix considering the problem safely solved. I don't know about the need for a blow out preventer. I defer to others on that point.

Sam

[Steve Clardy]

I googled "blowout preventer valve" and found it is used in oil wells.



Good idea if you have an oil well in the basement. :D

[Bill Dufour]

I googled "blowout preventer valve" and found it is used in oil wells. What is it with water lines?

I have 8' of braided steel I bought at a garage sale 10 years ago. Assuming it does not fail immediately (and that is why it was for sale) is it likely to be okay, or should I toss it and buy new?

Not sure of the actual name. When the DPo installed copper water line they drilled from above clear through the center of a joist. I got rid of that and ran pex up along the side of a joist. the valve at the wall is a special one that shuts off water if the flow rate is too high. I used a similar adapter for my gas stove.
Bil lD.

burst protect or flood master are some brands
N

[Jason Roehl]

Use a Sharkbite or similar and be done with it. Just make sure your tubing is cut square and round (ha!).

The ProPress fitting Ole mentioned is cool, but the tool and jaws set runs $1500, and the fittings are generally only available at plumbing supply houses (and online)--might be iffy on evening/weekend hours. I use them at work so that we don't have to use flame, and the lines don't have to be dry.

[Günter VögelBerg]

I used the plastic line with the "saddle valve". I did it at my old house and it was fine for ten years, at which point I moved. I did it again at this house and it has been fine for three years. However, it is in an unfinished basement. I don't know if I would be comfortable using that arrangement if it were above living space.

Same with the sharkbites. I used them to replace my water heater because it was in an unfinished basement and I have easy access to inspect it regularly.

[Günter VögelBerg]

Should add that when i moved to USA and was told that there was a little machine inside the refrigerator that made ice I thought it was a joke. Now I cannot imagine being without one.

[Ken Combs]

I'm late to the thread but my 2 pennies:
The braided line is really a plastic line with a steel sleeve over it. They have been known to fail. Not likely but possible. Most expensive solution to a simple problem. Second only to Sharkbite in that regard.

Compression fittings are generally reliable. But, temp changes can loosen them, not everyone has the 'feel' necessary to get them tight enough but not too tight. A good friend of mine had 2000sqft of carpet ruined by thousands of gallons of water. came from a 3/8 compression union that had been in place for 15 years or more with no issues.

Flare fittings are harder to do, but much more forgiving of tightening torque. Never have heard of an in use failure.

If one has the skill to do a sweat coupling, they are almost as good as a solid pipe/tubing.

New copper is belt and suspenders safe, except the connections at both ends, just like all the other options

My vote: Sweat fitting, 90 or straight, your choice. . Cheap, reasonably fast (takes longer to gather tools than do it), reliable