Ask The Trades - Outside Tap Stopped Working

Lectrician

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Outside Tap Stopped Working
Feb 1^st, 2009, 8:10am

I fitted an outside tap last year.

Tee'ed from the rising main to a stop tap, then a checkvalve, then out to the tap. (no drain cock).

The pipe enters directly into the rear of the tap connector, and I fitted a tap with a non return valve, as I picked up the wrong one!

The tap has stopped working, and I believe it to be the check valve outside (have not looked). I am guessing the check valve and the cold have caused this?

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CWatters Super Member Offline "Daddy fick it" says James Posts: 5150 Total Thanks: 58 For This Post: 0 Gender:	Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working Reply #1 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 10:13am Expanding ice can create a lot of pressure. If it froze up between the tap and non-return valve perhaps that put a lot of back pressure on the valve jammng if closed? .
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Lectrician

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Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working
Reply #2 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 10:25am

Thanks. I was kind of hoping that because I used one of the rear entry plates that the pipe would not have frozen, just the tap. But with the cold we had for over a week at christmas, I would not be surprised!

It is in a friends house. I must get around to going over. I may just loosen the tap outside and see if water flows. I will atleast know it if it is the tap outside or the check valve inside.

If I had fitted a drain off I could of opened that and seen if that flowed!

I guess I should change the tap anyway, it was meant to be a standard tap. They are only a couple of quid!

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Lectrician Administrator Trade Member Author Offline Ask The Trades Posts: 8814 Total Thanks: 109 For This Post: 0 Braunton, North Devon United Kingdom Gender: Trade: Electrician	Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working Reply #3 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 10:26am Also... When I fit these taps, I always fit the tap to the tap connector, and then fix it to the wall to make sure the tap is vertical. When the wall plate connecter is already fixed, I find it difficult to get the tap tight enough and still vertical? Any tips for this?
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Zambezi GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 109 For This Post: 0	Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working Reply #4 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 5:58pm If you tried it today it would have been frozen
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Lectrician Administrator Trade Member Author Offline Ask The Trades Posts: 8814 Total Thanks: 109 For This Post: 0 Braunton, North Devon United Kingdom Gender: Trade: Electrician	Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working Reply #5 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 6:20pm Not where I am Still 3°c here a couple hours ago. It was exactly zero when I went up on the moors earlier. Expect it to get colder tonight!
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Lectrician Administrator Trade Member Author Offline Ask The Trades Posts: 8814 Total Thanks: 109 For This Post: 0 Braunton, North Devon United Kingdom Gender: Trade: Electrician	Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working Reply #6 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 6:25pm Issue with displayed names/ex-members sorted.
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Goodsparks GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 109 For This Post: 0	Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working Reply #7 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 9:43pm Quote: I find it difficult to get the tap tight enough and still vertical? Boss White / Hawk White around the thread, tighten until vertical and leave to 'skin over' before filling up. Well, works for me - whatcha reckon Scruff ?
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thescruff

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Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working
Reply #8 - Feb 2^nd, 2009, 3:05am

Quote:

I find it difficult to get the tap tight enough and still vertical?

Boss White / Hawk White around the thread, tighten until vertical and leave to 'skin over' before filling up. Well, works for me - whatcha reckon Scruff ?

Not a good plan in my books GS.

Locktite 55 string is what I would use, although PTFE tape will do the same job, if you wrap the thread, then bunch a load up against the shoulder.

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Goodsparks GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 147 For This Post: 0	Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working Reply #9 - Feb 2^nd, 2009, 3:57pm Ahhh, could you use hemp and still use jointing compound ?
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thescruff Global Moderator Trade Member Author Offline Who said plumbing was easy. Posts: 6037 Total Thanks: 147 For This Post: 0 Gender: Trade: Plumber	Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working Reply #10 - Feb 2^nd, 2009, 5:07pm Technically it's potable water so no you shouldn't, although it's the best in it's day.
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Headrush

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Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working
Reply #11 - Feb 3^rd, 2009, 3:52pm

Lectrician wrote on Feb 1^st, 2009, 10:26am:

Also...

When I fit these taps, I always fit the tap to the tap connector, and then fix it to the wall to make sure the tap is vertical. When the wall plate connecter is already fixed, I find it difficult to get the tap tight enough and still vertical? Any tips for this?

You could try using one of these:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/82202/Plumbing/Brassware/Comap-Hose-Union-Back-Pla...

Then you can connect the tap 1st nice and tight then offer it up to the wall to mark your fixing holes without worrying about the wall plate being skewif.

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Goodsparks GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 10 For This Post: 0	Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working Reply #12 - Feb 3^rd, 2009, 4:50pm Thats a good idea. Dunno about sleeving the pipe through the wall though, would probably cock-up the fixing holes. Paul
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Goodsparks GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 10 For This Post: 0	Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working Reply #13 - Feb 3^rd, 2009, 4:51pm LOL, I didn't write thingy.
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Lectrician

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Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working
Reply #14 - Feb 3^rd, 2009, 7:40pm

Headrush wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2009, 3:52pm:

Lectrician wrote on Feb 1^st, 2009, 10:26am:

Also...

When I fit these taps, I always fit the tap to the tap connector, and then fix it to the wall to make sure the tap is vertical. When the wall plate connecter is already fixed, I find it difficult to get the tap tight enough and still vertical? Any tips for this?

You could try using one of these:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/82202/Plumbing/Brassware/Comap-Hose-Union-Back-Pla...

Then you can connect the tap 1st nice and tight then offer it up to the wall to mark your fixing holes without worrying about the wall plate being skewif.

Thats what I DO do!

This is already fitted to the wall now though, and I am changing one tap for another Wink

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Lectrician

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Re: Outside Tap Stopped Working
Reply #15 - Jan 18^th, 2010, 6:06pm

Thought I would bump this thread back up.

It was the check valve inside the house that failed. I replced it and is good.

During the snow, my own tap at home as stopped working, and this is just a standard bib tap outside, with a check valve behind the washing machine, and a stop tap in the cupboard.

I assume the same thing has happended.

Is there anyway to releave the stuck check valve, or is it a matter of relacing it?

I guess I will have to learn to winterise the tap when the cold hits, which is what the drain cock is for I guess. I wonder how many people suffer from this issue (actually, I wonder how many people actually have the correct setup!).

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