Why would the builder know ?..have you talked to the fridge maker see what they say about the water line ?

the fridge in our vacation home runs almost empty the whole winter, every winter, never had a problem. vacuum the sawdust off of anything that might have sawdust under neath or behind, have a service call.

Make sure the water line to the fridge got turned back on. Most waterlines have their own shut off valve. If a waterline cracked, there would be water leaking.

You are. The contractor isn't responsible for your product.

You are

Get ready to write a check, and put it behind you.

I feel your pain. I kept the higher-end dishwasher for re-install when the renovation of my new house was completed. The dishwasher door now squeaks to high heaven when I open it (it didn't before). From my internet research, it is likely because of dust in some component of the door opening apparatus. I was concerned with the appliances not getting banged up while they were stored; I wasn't so concerned with the sawdust and other dirty messes that were created for months on end around the stored appliances. Should the contractor have known? Who knows? Just one of those things that happen during renovations. I consider myself lucky I survived the whole process with just a few of these minor irritations!

Not in the realm of the contractor. My water line produces funky tasting water after our kitchen reno and I suspect that we grew mold in the water line or valve while it was unplugged (no choice but to unplug it). I do not consider this to be anything my contractor is responsible for. Just a by product of the renovation process.

Waterlines can easily be replaced, just an FYI for those that might help.