Replace icemaker saddle valve

[Cranraspberry]

We replaced our fridge yesterday and the new one is giving an error message showing not enough water supply to the ice maker. I’m guessing it has something to do with the saddle valve that’s at least 15 years old and should probably be replaced sooner rather than later. A few questions:
1. How likely is it that the issue is with the fridge and not the valve?
2. How problematic is replacing the current shutoff with a proper dual outlet valve given that the sink is pretty close to it? Guessing the disposal will need to be removed.
3. The shutoff is very inconveniently placed right behind the disposal, is there some way of moving it that isn’t too complicated/expensive?

And not sure if this is allowed, but if anyone can recommend a good plumber in the DMV (DC/MD border) area please share their info!

 

[Terry]

You have room to cut behind the saddle and add a double stop. They may them with double 3/8" and one with a 3/8" and a 1/4" output.

These are compression stops on copper, snugged up with two wrenches. Or pliers and a wrench.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Cranraspberry]

Thanks Terry! You’re making it sound not too intimidating. Any idea if that would help with water pressure to the fridge?

 

[Terry]

Thanks Terry! You’re making it sound not too intimidating. Any idea if that would help with water pressure to the fridge?

You can remove the connection to the fridge, and see what comes out into a bucket.
I've never installed a saddle valve before. I've removed plenty of them.

 

[Cranraspberry]

Thanks again. I have a service call with the fridge manufacturer scheduled for Monday - the only thing that’s throwing me off is that the first couple of batches of ice came out fine, so I want them to double check that it’s not a fridge issue (wouldn’t low water pressure have been a problem from the start?..) and I’m guessing they’ll pull it out to check so we’ll have a definitive answer.

I also just ordered the valve you recommend and will get that replaced regardless of what Monday brings.

 

[John Gayewski]

It's almost certainly the saddle valve. I've never removed one that wasn't almost completley mucked up.

 

[Cranraspberry]

I really, really hope it is. The previous fridge had an ice maker that was broken when we bought the place so I was SO excited to finally have a functioning one… and now this. With everything going on in the world this is the epitome of first world problems, but if I have to go back to using those silicone ice molds after paying $$$ for a brand new fridge that will be a huge bummer.

 

[WorthFlorida]

Thanks again. I have a service call with the fridge manufacturer scheduled for Monday - the only thing that’s throwing me off is that the first couple of batches of ice came out fine, so I want them to double check that it’s not a fridge issue (wouldn’t low water pressure have been a problem from the start?..) and I’m guessing they’ll pull it out to check so we’ll have a definitive answer.

I also just ordered the valve you recommend and will get that replaced regardless of what Monday brings.

If the line hasn't been used in years it could have been lined with muck. With enough crud, the water filter (carbon) in the refrigerator could be plugged up after a few days. If the water dispenser has good flow, the filter is probably OK.

 

[Cranraspberry]

No water dispenser and no filter in the fridge unfortunately, so no additional clues there. The last time I used that line was about two years ago when we first moved in - turned on the ice maker, determined that it just leaks water into the freezer in a giant puddle instead of making ice cubes and turned the ice maker off. Probably should have turned it off at the valve too but didn’t think of it.

 

[Cranraspberry]

Thought I’d update - after a long series of mishaps the technician finally came today and oddly enough it appears to be a freezer issue. He ran it on some kind of demo mode and the water pressure at the ice maker was surprisingly strong. If the tweaks he made today don’t work they will be replacing the ice maker module, and we’ll still be replacing the saddle valve in the near future but on a less urgent schedule.