This is just a mini rant in my "why is everything I do so much harder than it should be?" Series.
This Friday I'm getting a new fridge. Old fridge goes into the garage.
Anyway, the old fridge is over two decades old and has been a reliable workhorse. It will go to light duty to serve out its remaining time.
The ice maker in it is fed by my reverse osmosis water system that uses 3/8" OD PET tubing. There's a simple coupler valve using push connect fittings to connect the plastic tubing that is part of the fridge. Easy peasy.
The NEW fridge comes with a screw port for 1/4" compression fittings, and will arrive with a 6 foot stainless hose with the compression fittings (female) on both ends.
So I need to adapt my 3/8 feed line to 1/4" compression fittings, with a valve in there.
I would assume there should be exactly this piece for sale, as my situation of replacing old fridge is hardly unique.
Bit apparently they don't make a 3/8 push to 1/4 comp valve. I have to use three pieces: a valve with 3/8 push on both ends, then a short length of 3/8, then a 3/8 push to 1/4 MIP, then a 1/4 MIP to 1/4 compression adapter.
WTH? Why is this so complicated? And so many joints introduce lots of failure modes.
Am I missing something?![IMG_20211026_211951.jpg IMG_20211026_211951.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/rocketryforum/data/attachments/404/404295-d597218c0e8a6b5d0831713d2e7164f0.jpg)
This Friday I'm getting a new fridge. Old fridge goes into the garage.
Anyway, the old fridge is over two decades old and has been a reliable workhorse. It will go to light duty to serve out its remaining time.
The ice maker in it is fed by my reverse osmosis water system that uses 3/8" OD PET tubing. There's a simple coupler valve using push connect fittings to connect the plastic tubing that is part of the fridge. Easy peasy.
The NEW fridge comes with a screw port for 1/4" compression fittings, and will arrive with a 6 foot stainless hose with the compression fittings (female) on both ends.
So I need to adapt my 3/8 feed line to 1/4" compression fittings, with a valve in there.
I would assume there should be exactly this piece for sale, as my situation of replacing old fridge is hardly unique.
Bit apparently they don't make a 3/8 push to 1/4 comp valve. I have to use three pieces: a valve with 3/8 push on both ends, then a short length of 3/8, then a 3/8 push to 1/4 MIP, then a 1/4 MIP to 1/4 compression adapter.
WTH? Why is this so complicated? And so many joints introduce lots of failure modes.
Am I missing something?
![IMG_20211026_211951.jpg IMG_20211026_211951.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/rocketryforum/data/attachments/404/404295-d597218c0e8a6b5d0831713d2e7164f0.jpg)
Replies
When I've had plumbing issues, I've found that simplicity is key. That's why I've relied on this 247 Bristol plumber for emergencies. They've always been reliable and sorted out my problems efficiently. Maybe they can offer some advice or a workaround for your situation.
Hang tight, mate. Sometimes these things have more straightforward solutions than we initially think. Check out the link if you need it: https://www.pm247.co.uk/services/plumbing/bristol/
Maybe there is a valve with threads that you can put a 1/4"" threaded fitting in one side and a 3/8"" sharkbite on the other, screwing into the valve. That would eliminate the short length of tubing and a couple of push fittings anyway.
Are those Sharkbite fittings reliable? I have never used them but the are available for plumbing here. I use the standard PEX barbed fittings as I have the tool for terminating the fittings. Just curious on the Sharkbite though.