From making it much easier to water your garden and wash your car to enabling you to clean muddy paws or shoes before they trample back inside the house – outdoor taps serve many different purposes.
If you’re an experienced plumber, fitting an outdoor tap should be a piece of cake, but if you’re a beginner, it can be pretty difficult. Especially considering all of the different steps involved.
In this post, our professional plumbers here at PLUMBISIMO take you through the process of how to fit an outside tap, where to install them, and installation requirements you can’t afford to ignore.
What are the requirements for installing an outdoor tap?
To ensure optimal safety and functionality, you must make sure that:
- The tap is isolated by the stopcock, an in-line shutoff valve, or an in-line service valve.
- The valve is fitted correctly to prevent the backflow of water due to negative water pressure.
- Water can be drained from the pipework during the winter months and when the tap is not in use.
- The thermal insulation material is fitted around the external pipework to prevent pipes from freezing.
How do you install an outdoor tap?
There are a few different steps you need to follow when fitting an outside tap.
First, plan out where you’re going to install your tap. Anywhere near the internal cold water mains supply, like the outside wall behind your kitchen sink, is ideal – as this reduces the amount of plumbing needed.
Next, you need to drill a hole into the inside wall, through to the outside where you’ll be installing your outside tap, making sure to take accurate measurements before you go ahead.
After this, measure the thickness of the wall and cut a piece of copper pipe to length so that it can be inserted through the wall to be used as a protective layer for the water pipe.
Then, inside the building, turn off the water supply, cut into the cold water supply pipe, and use an appropriate fitting to connect your new pipe. Along the new pipe run, fit a service valve, then a double-check valve and a drain cock.
Run the pipe through the wall and fix it along the back plate, fixing the plate to the wall using wall plugs and screws after the pipework has been cut to length, then screw the outside tap into the back-plate elbow.
Before turning the water supply back on, check the fitting and tightening of the valves and all joints, and close the drain cock, the outside tap, and the service valve.
Make sure to turn the water supply back on and check for leaks. Open the service valve and check for leaks and turn on the outside tap to check the flow of water, turning it off to check for any leaks.
Finally, after all this is done, fit some insulation material around the pipework to protect it from cold temperatures.
What’s the best pipe for outside water?
Metal copper pipes are best suited to outdoor applications, as, unlike plastic pipes, they’re resistant to UV light.
They aren’t prone to snapping or bacteria growth – meaning they’ll last many years and provide a reliable connection to water mains.
How much does it cost to fit an outdoor tap?
Outdoor tap installation costs vary depending on several different factors, including where you’re having your new tap fitted, whether any additional plumbing work needs to be done, and the plumber you decide to work with.
When you choose PLUMBISIMO, you can expect the highest-quality plumbing services at some of the most competitive prices – so you won’t have to worry about a dodgy job or having to pay over the odds.
What is backflow and why is it dangerous?
In the world of plumbing, ‘backflow’ is a term used to describe an unwanted flow of water in the reverse direction.
Sometimes, due to pressure changes in the pipes, water might flow backwards and seep back into the main water supply line.
This seeping back of water is called backflow, and it happens when there is a break in the waterline of the pipeline – which can result in water contamination.
Thereby, according to the WRAS (Water Regs UK), the double-check valve must be fitted to prevent any contamination. It is highly recommended to install a double-check valve inside of the building to protect the valve against freezing temperatures and any damage.
PLUMBISIMO plumbers are here to help you follow these requirements and protect your health. Get in touch with us today for further advice or to book a professional fitting.
Legionella bacteria’s connection with garden hoses
Legionella bacteria is formed when stagnant water left inside the hose mixes with increased water temperature.
This bacteria can lead to a serious type of pneumonia, Legionnaires’ disease, inside the human body.
Legionnaires’ disease starts when people inhale small water droplets contaminated with Legionella
pneumonia.
Not only this, but the bacteria can also cause another type of illness called Pontiac fever.
Usually, the bacteria require stagnant water to be between 20°C to 45°C to start its formation, and the conditions inside the garden hosepipe provide the perfect breeding spot for these types of bacteria.
To steer clear of these risks, make sure you empty the water out of your garden hose after each use, and try not to leave full hoses in the sun once you’ve finished using it.
So, why do we need an outside tap?
The need for an outside tap may vary for different people depending on their requirements. It may be for household or professional use, but regardless of what you’ll be using it for, it’s a must-have piece of equipment.
To make sure your tap is fully functioning, you will need a qualified plumber to do all the plumbing, and this is where PLUMBISIMO Plumbers can help you with ensuring your tap’s functionality.
Get in touch with the PLUMBISIMO team
Want to learn more about outdoor taps and how you could benefit from them? Need help with the installation process?
We’re here for you!
Give us a call today on 07444 640 630, or send us a message via our online contact form and we’ll be in touch with further details shortly!
