Keep your garden green with our handy guide to installing an outside tap.
Even if you have several water butts that provide you with most of your water needs in the garden (and you should!), you’ll still find that a source of running water in the garden is necessary on occasion. How else are you going to fill that gorgeous water feature you’ll be installing this spring? Our guide below will help you get tapped out.
Time to complete the job: 1 hour
Step 1: Run the mains outside
If you’re comfortable with more complex plumbing tasks, you can do this yourself. You’ll need to drill a hole through the side of your house big enough to draw a pipe connected to your mains water through to the outside.
If you have any doubts, it’s best to get a plumber in to do this for you.
Step 2: Mark and drill
If your house is made of brick, stick a few pieces of masking tape to the wall where you want the tap to go.
Hold the tap base against the tape and mark the screw placement with a pencil. Drill into the brick work using the hammer drill.
Step 3: Hang the tap base
Press wall plugs into the holes then gently tap them home with the hammer.
Screw the base to the wall. It needs to be secure so kids and husbands can use a bit of force on it without wrenching it from the wall.
Tip: If you use a 7mm drill bit, use brown wall plugs. For a 6mm drill bit, use red.
Step 4: Attach the hose
Slide a jubilee hose clip loosely over the hosepipe protruding from the wall. Press the nozzle into the open end of the hose. Make sure you have a washer in the nozzle, as this will provide the seal. Connect the nozzle to the tap base. Tighten the connection with a spanner.
Slide the jubilee clip into place on the hose and tighten the grub screw.
Tip: When tightening connections on any plumbing work, don’t force them tight. Make the connection firm and tighten it just another pinch.
Step 5: Assemble the tap
Wrap PTFE tape around the thread that connects the tap to its base. This will give you a leak-free seal. Wind the tap on to the base – firmly but not too tight.
Water those hydrangeas!
source: uktv
