Outside garden tap fitting

EmptyPockets

Not sure if this should be in the Greenfingered section :question: But it's a gardening problem so will post anyway haha!

Does anybody know how easy or difficult it is to fit an outside tap? Is it something best left to those-who-know-how, and do you know roughly how much it should cost to have done?

When it comes to watering plants and veggies we currently have to trudge through the kitchen with watering cans, or trail the hosepipe through the kitchen window and then squeeze under the sink to get to the washing machine taps! (our sink taps are all old-fashioned and hosepipe connector won't fit them. We haven't been able to find a connector that will fit.)

Painkiller

We used to have to put the hose pipe through the kitchen window too.

We bought one of the DIY outdoor tap kits but then decided to get a plumber to do it properly. We were having other plumbing work done at the same time so can't remember the exact price but it's so much better now that we don't have to route the hose through the kitchen window.

I would imagine most plumbers could give you a free quote.

An outdoor tap will have the threaded end that will allow you to screw a plastic hose adapter onto which means attaching the hose will be a simple push on, pull off process.

Just remember to protect it from cold weather during the winter.

ALIBOBSY

We got one of those tap kits from B&Q think it was about £20 or possible less. The kit had a connector you screw onto your existing pipework which is self tapping so cuts and seals the pipe at the same time.

The pipe which runs outside is thick plastic sort of like really strong thick hose so is easy to position, but as ours has only been on for about 18 months I can't comment on how long it will last. It was a bit fiddlely and we ended up with me having more success turning the tightening screw for the cutting bit slowly and carefully rather than OH who at first tried to jam it.
No leaks so far and works well, great to be able to have a hose on at the back or fill the watering can up out there.

BTW out sink is against the back wall just where we wanted the tap, if yours is futher away it may be something you would need to get someone in to do. Even with proper pipeing tho I can't see it taking too much time or work. Think we had a quote of about £70-£75, but we wanted the cash for stuff in the garden at the time.

ali x

jimbo_the_jetset

With push fit elbows & service valves and a copper pipe cutter, fairly easy. You will need a 18-20mm diameter ~400mm drill bit to get through the wall though.

Note - water regs require you to fit a double check valve. All standard stuff from a plumbers merchant.

Plumber would do it in a hour or two, say £50 labour plus parts.

As above you can get the 'kits' which are mostly plastic. But having had one I would prefer copper pipe, probably with soldered joints for long life.

Optimisticpair

Is there a reason that you couldn't buy a water butt or two and catch your own free rainwater from your gutter downpipe to use? They are easier to DIY install.

EmptyPockets

Wow, thanks for all the ideas! I'll show the thread to Mr Empty later and he can decide which way to go Our kitchen sink is also on the back wall, which makes things a bit easier...

Optimisticpair, no, there's no reason we can't get a water butt... except money lol. I've been trying my best every time they come up on our local Freegle, but no luck yet as they go like hot cakes. I think I remember seeing some pretty cheap ones at B&Q (can't remember how much though), but with a DMP, and a poorly dog needing regular medication and vet visits, so far we've never had the spare cash to get one. Hence my question of whether we could do the tap ourselves, the cheaper the better haha

ALIBOBSY

Optimisticpair wrote: »

Is there a reason that you couldn't buy a water butt or two and catch your own free rainwater from your gutter downpipe to use? They are easier to DIY install.

For us our downpipe is at the front of the house jointly between us and the next semi so no space to fit a butt, but its a good idea.
Trouble we would have is with 3 kids I am sure they would mess around with it (my Dad has to chase them off his lol).

Worth the OP considering tho.

ali x

Optimisticpair

EmptyPockets wrote: »

Wow, thanks for all the ideas! I'll show the thread to Mr Empty later and he can decide which way to go Our kitchen sink is also on the back wall, which makes things a bit easier...

Optimisticpair, no, there's no reason we can't get a water butt... except money lol. I've been trying my best every time they come up on our local Freegle, but no luck yet as they go like hot cakes. I think I remember seeing some pretty cheap ones at B&Q (can't remember how much though), but with a DMP, and a poorly dog needing regular medication and vet visits, so far we've never had the spare cash to get one. Hence my question of whether we could do the tap ourselves, the cheaper the better haha

Hi Mrs Empty,

I see what you mean. I don't know if the DIY tap is ok or if a brass tap and copper pipe fixing is the best long term option for the cost. I'm not surprised to hear if there are any freegle water butts they fly away.

BnQ butts are £20 upwards touch assuming that you don't also buy a plastic stand for it to sit on (I've got leftover breeze blocks here).

I'm off down the black plastic dustbin and guttering reroute route. 80 litre dustbins are £8.99 in Wilkos. I have two ready to connect when I can clear the space in front of the downpipes.

What I will do this year is work out how to organise things to claim the water rates reduction. Sorry you have a poorly dog btw

Optimisticpair

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

For us our downpipe is at the front of the house jointly between us and the next semi so no space to fit a butt, but its a good idea.
Trouble we would have is with 3 kids I am sure they would mess around with it (my Dad has to chase them off his lol).

Worth the OP considering tho.

ali x

Hi ali,

I've got a problem one at the front of my house too. No place to put a butt and we are sloping uphill in the wrong direction.

The main roof water goes downslope out into my neighbours drain but our extension roof which uses the same downpipe by joining lower down it could supply a handy amount (we are on a water meter). I'd need to divert the rainwater without adding an ugly diagonal pipe across the house frontage (conservation area).

I think it would work out MSE if we do this somehow and can claim the reduced water rates. My water bill is £300 a yr and there is just something that appeals to me about not having bills.

EmptyPockets

Hmmm, plastic dustbin and guttering... love that idea! :T

SallyForth_2

Optimisticpair wrote: »

Hi Mrs Empty,

I see what you mean. I don't know if the DIY tap is ok or if a brass tap and copper pipe fixing is the best long term option for the cost. I'm not surprised to hear if there are any freegle water butts they fly away.

BnQ butts are £20 upwards touch assuming that you don't also buy a plastic stand for it to sit on (I've got leftover breeze blocks here).

I'm off down the black plastic dustbin and guttering reroute route. 80 litre dustbins are £8.99 in Wilkos. I have two ready to connect when I can clear the space in front of the downpipes.

What I will do this year is work out how to organise things to claim the water rates reduction. Sorry you have a poorly dog btw

I just purchased yesterday a slimline waterbutt (100l) in wilko for £13, I could have got the matching stand for £7 but decided that was more than I was willing to pay, so I am on the hunt for old bricks or breeze blocks to stand it on.