Ice maker water valve leaking

[BouseBill]

Well...temps are warming up here in the Southwest Arizona deserts so I wanted to restart the ice maker in, our 2015 BigHorn 3570RS. I winterized the system last December before freezing temps arrived by blowing out the system with compressed air, Opened the valve, ran the water through the system, filled the Frigidaire holding tank, turned on the ice maker, and waited for the sound of ice being made. YES!! the sound of water entering the Fridge, all good.
Maybe 30 minutes later the wife says....Hummm there's water coming out of the bottom of the island...Well Poo...back down on the hands and knees with a flashlight and sure enough the water valve is leaking. The valve appears to have a seam along the top where the 1/4" line attaches to the valve, that's where the water is coming out. The nut holding the water line is plenty tight.
This is going to be a bummer to replace being behind the drain pipe.

 

[danemayer]

Let me suggest getting a couple of Sharkbite fittings to join the existing PEX and extend the line to a more convenient placement of the new cutoff valve. The Sharkbite fitting will slip right onto the PEX after you cut it and will lock in place nicely. Should make it all much easier.

 

[meagle]

Due to extensive damage to my Landmark from a leaking ice maker/refrigerator water line (had to replace entire slide floor, carpet, and some cabinet case work) I installed a shutoff valve in the existing line that runs along the frame outside of the RV. I chose this "fix" after my experience and reading about problems such as this from many other owners of Heartland's residential refrigerator installs. To me the problems are just not worth the convenience of an ice maker.

 

[travelin2]

I'll also add that IMO just blowing lines out with compressed air still leaves the system vulnerable. You'll never completely void the lines of water especially if you're trying to blow water "up" a pipe. Water clings to surfaces and eventually any remaining moisture is going to pool in the low spots. Pex pipe is forgiving but plastic and nylon fittings are not.
I'd reconfigure that deal so I had a low point drain in the water maker line.


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[BouseBill]

A low point drain is almost mandatory for folks who live in REALLY freezing climes. We don't. We get maybe a couple weeks of nights when the temps get below 32. Being full-timers and home most every night the heat is always on(and even when we're not). We have never had a problem with any water lines freezing up, inside or out. The valve is located in the island so I don't think freezing was the problem, I think it just failed. It's way to early in the year for me to be wrong

 

[danemayer]

I installed a shutoff valve in the existing line that runs along the frame outside of the RV. I chose this "fix" after my experience and reading about problems such as this from many other owners of Heartland's residential refrigerator installs.

meagle,

In earlier years, the cutoff valve for the ice maker line was behind the UDC. The line then ran outside and up into the slide out, to the refrigerator.

More recently, and perhaps on your RV, the cutoff valve is inside the living area, under the counters, or under the since, or under cabinets next to the sink.

Installing a cutoff valve outside will protect the last few feet of the water line. But if you leave water in the line leading up to the valve, you could still have freeze damage at or before your new cutoff valve.

 

[meagle]

Thank you. I will search for another valve. When the slide floor was replaced the facility upgraded the lines per my request. I will check with them to see if they removed the shut off valve inside the coach and if they did not where it is. Supposedly the valve that they installed was much better than what was in place (per the technician) from the factory.