Debate: do you pressure test a fridge line or just gamble and hook it up?

I tried pressure testing a water line on a Samsung fridge in Denver last week and it held fine, but then a pinhole leak showed up after 3 days. Now I'm wondering if the extra time spent testing was even worth it since it still failed. My buddy says just crank the saddle valve and check for drips, but that feels half-assed. What's your take - do you pressure test every line or just roll the dice?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_seth6d ago

Your buddy's "just crank the saddle valve" method is how you end up with a flooded kitchen at 2am. I get where he's coming from, most of the time those lines hold fine and you save an hour. But after your pinhole leak I'd say pressure testing is still worth it, you just gotta be more thorough. The problem is those pinhole leaks are random, they can show up from a tiny scratch in the tubing or a bad flare that looks good but fails under real water pressure over time. I'd say do a longer pressure test, like 24 hours at 80psi or higher, not just the 15 minute quick check. That way you catch more of the weak spots before water is running through it. Still not perfect, nothing is, but it beats mopping up a mess.

dylan_rodriguez6d ago

Yeah I actually read this thing online where a plumber said those 15 minute tests are basically useless because the real weak spots don't show up until the tubing's been under constant pressure for hours and has time to expand a bit.