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I bought and installed a whole home humidifier. The humidifier is located in my attic connected to the air exchanger. The Self-Piercing Saddle Valve is located there as well to draw water to the flow through screen. Since the valve is at the highest water point, I seem to get suction around the rubber gasket and air gets into the pipe and I have to flush that zone every day or 2. Is there an alternative to the saddle valve?

gregmac
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Queso
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  • Does having a humidifier mean you're likely to get mold? Or are you doing something else to mitigate that? – Jay Bazuzi Nov 23 '10 at 04:54
  • the main living floor is very dry during the winter and we have a room humidifier, but wanted something a bit more substantial. – Queso Nov 27 '10 at 18:24

1 Answers1

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I had a self piercing saddle valve on my whole house humidifier when I bought the house. It had developed mineral deposits in the piercing hole and no longer worked. I ended up taking it off, cutting the pipe and sweating in a regular valve. Self-piercing valves are notorious for clogging up and also for eventually leaking. Since it is in you attic, any leak would drip down onto you ceiling and cause water damage. I would consider replacing it with a regular valve.

SchwartzE
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  • Agreed. The self-piercing valve that the previous owners installed in my home for the refrigerator ice maker sprung a leak about 2 years ago. Luckily, it was in the basement, and it happened while I had framing up, but before I had drywall up for my finishing job. I had a plumber come in and replace it, as well as the other self-piercing time bomb that they had installed for the humidifier. – Chris Jaynes Nov 23 '10 at 22:43
  • I installed a T to the humidifier, so far so good. Thanks for the Advice! – Queso Nov 27 '10 at 18:25