Replies

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Dec 05, 2006 03:41pm | #1

   I used braided on mine, but I have an access panel accessible from behind the wall where the fridge is located, so I can disconnect when I want to move it. With copper, you can leave a large coil behind the fridge so you can pull it out without disconnecting. Either will work fine -- depends on your situation.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

2. 
   IMERC | Dec 05, 2006 03:46pm | #2

   braided is better...

   copper can kink..

    

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!! What a Ride!

   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

3. 
   rasconc | Dec 05, 2006 04:27pm | #3

   I saw a braided kit that had an aoutmatic shutoff in case something ran amok.  Can't remember if it was Lowes or HD.  Around here copper is prone to pinholes from well water that is a little too acid. 

1. 
   BillHartmann | Dec 05, 2006 05:05pm | #6

   HD has those supply lines.I had to return the one that I had. It was feeding a 1 gal water softener, part of a expresso machine.The tank allowed high flow which is registered as a "leak".I saw where someone else had similar problems with one in a more conventional application.

1. 
   paul42 | Dec 05, 2006 06:32pm | #7

   I haven't tried any of these, but might work

   http://www.firstdetection.com/flood_stop/

4. 
   TWG | Dec 05, 2006 04:33pm | #4

   Thanks everyone for your replies.  I will likely go with braided and look for auto shut-off.

5. 
   Dudley | Dec 05, 2006 04:51pm | #5

   We use copper -- and have always used it -- what you do is get a roll of copper straighten 2 feet out and attach to refrig. on the other end straighten a short piece out and attach to the water line -- using 25 feet you are left with roughly 20 feet that is coiled as it originally came out of the box -- it is like a spring -- when you pull the refrig out it springs out and roll the refrig back in the spring contracts.  It is really impossible for it to kink in this fashion

6. 
   DanH | Dec 05, 2006 08:25pm | #8

   The main thing you want to avoid is the translucent plastic, with no braid. That stuff is very easily damaged. Otherwise, copper vs qood quality braided is probably a tossup.

   Whatever you use, make sure it's positioned so it's unlikely to be damaged by someone shoving the fridge around. If necessary install some sort of guard where the tube goes through the floor or wall.

   People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt. --Otto von Bismarck
7. 
   Omah | Dec 06, 2006 12:16am | #9

   Either braided or pex tube works well especially if you may be using R.O. water for clear ice. R.O. water will disolve copper.

1. 
   rwjiudice | Dec 06, 2006 12:32am | #10

   OK, I'm sure if I think long enuf I'll figure out what "RO" water is...

   "Raunchy Old" water from lake Zorinski (In Omaha???)

   Dick (from Omaha)

1. 
   DanH | Dec 06, 2006 12:37am | #11

   - (.ro) Romania (Internet country domain name)
   - read only
   - read out
   - receive only
   - register operation
   - remote office
   - remote operation
   - response owner (role in resolving customer complaints)
   - Romania (country identifier, ISO standard 3166)
   - Tarom Romain Air Transport, RumaenienOr, "reverse osmosis".
   People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt. --Otto von Bismarck

1. 
   Omah | Dec 06, 2006 12:50am | #12

   Sorry, but hey you finnaly got it. Reverse Osmosis water is nature's most perfect solvent. so I've heard

1. 
   IMERC | Dec 06, 2006 01:15am | #15

   nature's most perfect solvent.

   nd yur consuming this stuff... 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->

   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

2. 
   plumbbill | Dec 06, 2006 03:03am | #20

   OK I'll bite

   RO's take things out of the water via a membrane using pressure aka (reverse)

   So how does purifing water make it a "solvent"“It so happens that everything that is stupid is not unconstitutional.” —Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia

3. 
   Omah | Dec 06, 2006 05:58am | #24

   I don't really know, My water guy told me and I didn't go into it at the time.

2. 
   TWG | Dec 06, 2006 12:51am | #13

   No Romanian or reverse osmosis water at my house.  I use my ice with whiskey so I can't tell if it's dirty. Especially after a couple.

   Thanks again for all the responses.

   TWG. 

2. 
   IMERC | Dec 06, 2006 01:12am | #14

   Rough Opening..

   it'll tear ya new new one... 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->

   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

8. 
   user-238616 | Dec 06, 2006 01:38am | #16

   I used small diameter plastic or Ipex plastic tubing, and it has been fine for years

1. 
   DanH | Dec 06, 2006 01:44am | #17

   Two problems that occur with the plastic tubing:-- The nylon-like stuff gets brittle over time. (Pex presumably is immune to this.)-- Small-diameter tubing is easily damaged by someone sliding the fridge about, or even just using a stick to dig out something that's fallen behind.Unfortunately, when broken the small tubing can put out a lot of water in a short period of time.
   People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt. --Otto von Bismarck

1. 
   rwjiudice | Dec 06, 2006 01:55am | #18

   I'd be really nervous about using any plastic tubing (other than pex).

   My in-laws went to their cabin in MN for a couple weeks during the summer. I got a call from the police (I'm the contact for their alarm co). Seems the plastic pipe under the kitchen sink, going to the drinking water faucet broke...(they have softened water, hence the separate drinking water faucet). The water ran for oh..... a week or so?? 4 inches of water on the first floor, it slowly seeped to the finished basement. NICELY finished I will say.

   When I called my father in law to break the news to him, he was b]obviosly somewhat shocked. He kept asking 'how bad is it" and finally I had to explain the best I could. " The way I found out about the water was it was so much, the CEILING IN THE BASEMENT FINALLY COLLAPSED AND TRIGGERED THE BURGULAR ALARM!!!!!

   Plastic in MY home??? nooooooo. 

1. 
   user-238616 | Dec 06, 2006 02:29am | #19

   I live in Canada & new home constrution does not even use copper pipe anymore, all plumping is pex pipe. You didnot say why the plastic pipe broke, there's  never usually a problem unless improperly installed or damaged.

1. 
   IMERC | Dec 06, 2006 03:03am | #21

   plastic pipe / tube fails for no more reason that it can... 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->

   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

2. 
   DanH | Dec 06, 2006 03:33am | #22

   One fairly common problem is for fittings to pull apart. This is often the fault of the installer, failing to use the insert that's supposed to go inside the tubing when using a compression fitting, but sometimes the mfgr claims the insert is unneeded.The other two problems are mechanical damage and simple aging/fatigue of the plastic. I had a plastic line on our furnace humidifier that was fine for several years. Then we had the AC coil replaced, and the line was moved slightly, so that it rested against the furnace flue. Come heating season the tube melted through. (The line is now copper.)
   People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt. --Otto von Bismarck

3. 
   user-238616 | Dec 07, 2006 04:59am | #25

   Thanks for your comments

4. 
   rwjiudice | Dec 06, 2006 03:35am | #23

   It was not PEX. It was the old white plastic. It just fades/rots/breaks. I'd NEVER EVER use it. The people who cleaned the house (damage repair specialists) said that plastic pipe was the #2 reason their business flourishes.

   The #1 reason for water damage???? Washer hose bursts!!!!

   That's from them, not me!