Don’t Poke Holes In Your Pipes
May 25th, 2010 | 8 comments
Most ice makers and whole house humidifiers I inspect have a saddle valve supplying the water. These are devices that allow for a very fast, cheap, do-it-yourself installation of a ¼” water supply line.
Saddle valves are installed by tightening a metal clamp on to a water pipe, then tightening down a needle valve until it pierces the water pipe. No cutting of pipes is required, no soldering, no special tools… simple. Very DIY. The needle just pokes a hole in the pipe, and I’ve heard it can be done without even turning off the water… not that I’ve ever tried. There has to be a catch, right?
There is. These saddle valves are prone to leakage, and they’re not allowed by the Minnesota State Plumbing Code.
Most of them don’t leak, but they have a much higher chance of leaking than a properly installed water valve. If they do end up leaking, the repair will involve doing all the stuff that you’re supposed to be able to avoid – cutting, fitting, reaming, cleaning, soldering, etc.
My advice is to not use saddle valves. If you plan to install an appliance that needs a ¼” water pipe, have a proper shutoff valve installed. It will take more time to do it right, but you’ll dramatically lower the chances of it leaking.
If you already have a saddle valve in your home, try to leave it alone. Every time you operate the valve, you increase the chances of creating a leak.
Reuben Saltzman, Structure Tech Home Inspections - Email - Minnesota Home Inspector
Ken Rowe
February 16, 2012, 11:52 pm
We were just having this discussion at an ASHI meeting.
MN plumbing code does allow approved saddle valves:
2009 Minnesota Plumbing Code https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=4715&view=chapter#rule.4715.0800
4715.0800 Mechanical Joints
“Saddle-type fittings secured by steel
electroplated U-bolts may be used for
aboveground water distribution, if the fittings
are galvanized, include a collar fitting into the
pipe opening with a gasket, and have IAPMO
approval.”
Here’s an example of approvals:
http://pld.iapmo.org/file_info.asp?file_no=N6065
Reuben Saltzman
February 17, 2012, 5:10 am
Hi Ken,
I wish I would have been at that meeting, it sounded like a good discussion.
The saddle valves that everyone uses on copper tubing, and the ones that you gave a link to as an example of approvals, are not the type mentioned in 4715.0800. They are not secured by steel electroplated U-bolts, the fittings are not galvanized, and they do not have a collar fitting into the pipe opening with a gasket.
- Reuben
Ken Rowe
February 17, 2012, 1:56 pm
Reuben,
You are correct, I did give the wrong example of approvals. Here’s a picture of an approved saddle valve.
http://www.erg.co.za/sadclamp.jpg
Reuben Saltzman
February 17, 2012, 3:00 pm
Hi Ken,
That valve looks like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Have you?
The description says “saddle clamp”, not “saddle valve”.
Ken Rowe
February 17, 2012, 3:12 pm
Actually, I had one on the galvanized pipes in my own house (St Paul, 1948 build). They used it to connect a pressure relief valve to the cold water pipe going to the laundry sink.
Reuben Saltzman
February 17, 2012, 3:23 pm
You don’t have a photo of it, do you?
Reuben Saltzman
March 17, 2012, 6:31 am
It took me a month, but I was finally able to take a few photos of the old style saddle valves that the Minnesota State Plumbing Code accepts (I think). These were at a house in Saint Louis Park.
Illegal Plumbing Products in Minnesota | Structure Tech Home Inspections
November 21, 2012, 4:26 am
[...] Saddle valves are usually used for whole house humidifiers, which I’m not a fan of to start with, and ice-makers. They work by piercing a hole in your water pipe, and they’re prone to leaking. They’re also not allowed in Minnesota. [...]