Info: Self Piercing Saddle Valve with 1/4" Compression (SV-6)
If you need to tap into a cold water pipe to connect an icemaker, fridge, or drinking water system (or a hot water pipe to connect a central humidifier) but do not want to actually cut the pipe and install some sort of union connector or hire a plumber to do that, a Self-Piercing Saddle Valve is a low cost Do-It-Yourself option.
Info: Self Piercing Saddle Valve with 1/4" Compression (SV-6)
If you need to tap into a cold water pipe to connect an icemaker, fridge, or drinking water system (or a hot water pipe to connect a central humidifier) but do not want to actually cut the pipe and install some sort of union connector or hire a plumber to do that, a Self-Piercing Saddle Valve is a low cost Do-It-Yourself option.
Product Notes:
This device is relatively easy to install: after affixing the connections and tubing you need for the diverted water's destination, you position it around the pipe you want to splice into, and turn the handle until the needle drills into the pipe, then back it off so it doesn't obstruct the flow.
The device itself is about 3.5 inches tall, and consists of an aluminum C-shaped clamp with an unattached I-beam in the middle (aka a G-clamp) and some brass pieces, including a 1/4" male compression fitting (which can be unscrewed) and T-style handle. It can be used with copper, brass, or aluminum pipes (including on 3/8" to 5/8" copper tubing), or even plastic or polybutylene style pipes or tubing up to 15mm in diameter, but should not be used with flex-line tubing.
Although most plumbers advise against these types of devices on the basis that they eventually leak, they may do as an economical temporary solution, or if installed in a basement or crawl space that you monitor periodically where some dripping may not matter.