Where else can I plumb a feed line for my RODI?

[Audi0s]

So while making water all day yesterday (I have a slow RODI, only 25gpd) my faucet adapter blew off, broke a few glasses in my sink, and managed to strip out the female threads on my faucet. Now it cant hold it together to maintain pressure, putting me without a RODI, and of course I have no top off water! Im going to grab some 2.5 gal jugs of distilled to hold me over, but what can I do about the faucet adapter? Anyone know how much it costs to plumb a line in under the sink? Any other options? Thanks

 

[redfishbluefish]

Audi, you can buy a self-tapping saddle valve for a couple bucks at HD or Lowes.  It simply screws onto a copper pipe and then you twist in the valve part and you now have a water source.  The fitting on your RO/DI unit simply screws onto the valve.

 

[Jcurry@wesketch]

You can use a "supply saddle" anywhere on a copper line. http://www.airwaterice.com/product/SV-6/Supply_Valve_14_Easy_to_tap_into_Water_Supply_Line.html

Or you buy a valve similar to the one under the sink that the faucet connects to but it's a dual outlet "T" valve that has a 1/4" compression fitting on the side.

 

[Audi0s]

Wow awesome, thanks for the suggestions! I wish I had posted this when I first got my unit, I had a hell of a time finding a fitting for it! Ill run down to HD later in the week and look around.

 

[sur4die]

i have a few adapters on my washing machine's source fixture. it is basically a Y adapter for a hose and then a brass nipple that takes the hose threads to the size of the RODI.

 

[Mbodell]

There are adapters that go onto the shutoff valve under your sink. They are a simple compression tee 3/8 x 3/8 x 1/4. That is where mine ties in. That way there is not modification to the lines. I have some at work if you are interested.

 

[justchad]

make sure you tap into the cold line not the hot and if you need water for t.o. in the mean time, I am located in forked river.

 

[Audi0s]

Thanks for all the input guys, its good to know I have a few choices. It seems like the smaller copper pipes are hard to find in my 1 bdr apt. Under either sink I have a shut off valve and flexible braided steel hosing. Will that be suitable for a tap-in type fitting as previously mentioned? Im pretty sure it couldnt get a good seal on a flexible line as opposed to the solid copper. Im a total new noob to plumbing, only recently got out from the parents house

make sure you tap into the cold line not the hot and if you need water for t.o. in the mean time, I am located in forked river.

Thanks alot chad, Im up in Hackensack, like an hour and a half away. I really appreciate the offer though. Its nice to see the generosity of the local sites, much more personal. Besides, a 2.5 gal jug of distilled is like 3 bucks.

 

[redfishbluefish]

You can not mount a saddle valve on a stainless steel flex line. These are made to tap into a copper pipe. You’ve got to have a half inch of copper somewhere under that sink. As far as installing this little valve,they come with a little rubber gasket seal and again, are self tapping. Once you screw the two screws to mount the valve, you then use a wrench to tap into the copper pipe. This is real simple stuff. The only tools needed are a screw driver and a wrench.

Just go to HD/Lowes and ask the plumbing guy for a saddle valve for an RO unit (or ice maker). My guess is about $5.00 for this valve.

Now, after saying all that….since you are in an apartment, you might want to take a less invasive approach. Here you could remove that flex line from the cold side and put in either a threaded “Y” connection with the proper fittings OR a second valve with the correct fitting for the RO unit. Will cost a few more bucks, but when you move out, just unscrew this and remove it and no one will know otherwise.

 

[Audi0s]

Yeah I think thats what Ill try. MB sent me a pic of a valved fitting and it should work well. I live down the block from the Home Depot, so Ill head over there one night this week.