Outside tap

LSainsbury · 28-11-2010, 12:52

Afternoon,

Do all outside taps have a stopcock fitted to them?

Are there any building regs that state that one must be fitted?

Our house is 2ish years old and I cannot find it anywhere.

martyh · 28-11-2010, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

Afternoon,

Do all outside taps have a stopcock fitted to them?

Are there any building regs that state that one must be fitted?

Our house is 2ish years old and I cannot find it anywhere.

not necessarily a stop cock ,but sometimes there may a isolator valve to turn off that section of the mains, failing that to turn it off you will have to turn off the mains .I'm not aware of any regulations that require a stop cock or isolator valve to any part of the mains system

28-11-2010, 13:08

I installed mine and used one of the self tapping ( hehe) easy fit kits which does have its own tap

SnoopZ · 28-11-2010, 13:13

I was under the impression that an outside tap had to be fitted with an isolator now if it was fitted after those regulations came in, same goes for indoor taps too, but then im not a plumber so maybe very wrong!

edit:

Quote:

The installing needs to comply with certain regulations which specify that:

The tap can be isolated by means of an in-line shut off valve, such as a stopcock, or in-line service valve.

http://www.practicaldiy.com/plumbing...utside-tap.php

heero_yuy · 28-11-2010, 13:14

AFIK current water regs only require a non-return valve is fitted to all new installations. Fitting either a stopcock or isolation valve inside the property is a good idea so that the outside part of the pipe may be isolated and drained in severe frosts.

SnoopZ · 28-11-2010, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

AFIK current water regs only require a non-return valve is fitted to all new installations. Fitting either a stopcock or isolation valve inside the property is a good idea so that the outside part of the pipe may be isolated and drained in severe frosts.

His house is only 2 years old though,so that should be covered with the new regulations i guess?

Peter_ · 28-11-2010, 14:22

I can isolate mine from inside as it is connected to the same pipe as the washing machine and dishwasher.

heero_yuy · 28-11-2010, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

His house is only 2 years old though,so that should be covered with the new regulations i guess?

Yep, they've been in a while. Try looking for something like this:

instead of a traditional stopcock. That one's a compression fitting but the valve part is the same for most.

You use a coin or flat blade screwdriver to turn the valve.

martyh · 28-11-2010, 14:25

All the regs i have checked only say it is "best practice" to install isolator valves ,it is however compulsory to install non return valves to outside taps to stop contaminated water being sucked back into the system from hose pipes

Osem · 28-11-2010, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

Our house is 2ish years old and I cannot find it anywhere.

Blimey, the outside tap is the least of your problems I reckon...

28-11-2010, 14:32

http://www.swelluk.com/garden-wateri...ium=googlebase this is what I used

LSainsbury · 28-11-2010, 16:35

Stopcock - isolator valve - yeah - that's what I meant - I stopcock is the device that stops the flow of incoming water to the property

OK - thanks for the advice - so the consensus is that there may not be one?

Generally - where would this bee fitted? The stopcock is under the sink along with the isolators for the washing machine / dishwasher. I can't see one in the airing cupboard. The tap in question is on the back of the house - god knows which way the pipe runs.

---------- Post added at 16:35 ---------- Previous post was at 16:34 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

Blimey, the outside tap is the least of your problems I reckon...

Yeah - I've looked for it everwhere but cannot find it! Bloody house - why can't it stay where I left it in the morning!

SnoopZ · 28-11-2010, 17:00

It should be between where the tap comes through the wall and where it connects to the internal pipework, mine is located under my kitchen sink where it comes through the wall and i have 1 of those valves in post 8, and seeing this thread has just reminded me to turn mine off otherwise it'll freeze in the tap outside and i always have a hard time getting it to work again.

LSainsbury · 29-11-2010, 07:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

It should be between where the tap comes through the wall and where it connects to the internal pipework, mine is located under my kitchen sink where it comes through the wall and i have 1 of those valves in post 8, and seeing this thread has just reminded me to turn mine off otherwise it'll freeze in the tap outside and i always have a hard time getting it to work again.

Well - there's about 2" of pipework on the outside and then disapears into the wall - nothing more to see.

Might just have to buy one of those tap jacket things then.

martyh · 29-11-2010, 08:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

Well - there's about 2" of pipework on the outside and then disapears into the wall - nothing more to see.

Might just have to buy one of those tap jacket things then.

can't you see any pipe on the inside ?

Where is the tap placed on the outside of the property ?kitchen wall?