DIY Garden

Installing an outside tap

Materials

• Outdoor faucet with accessories (wall plate, screws, plugs)

• Optionally: drain valve

• Copper tube

• Compression fittings

• Teflon tape

• Saddles

These tools come in handy

•Tape measure

• Impact drill

• Pipe cutter, hacksaw or angle grinder

• Work gloves

Step-by step plan

Step 1: Determine the location of the outside tap

There are a few things that you should keep in mind.

• First the height. Mount an outside tap at least 50 cm above the ground, so that a large bucket or watering can fit underneath.

• It is also important that the outside tap is higher than the point where you connect it to an existing water pipe in the house, so that you can drain it in the winter to prevent freezing.

• If you want to connect the outside tap to a lower position, you will have to install a drain tap on the pipe.

• If your house has a crawl space, this is the designated place for the connection to the water supply.

Step 2. Calculate how many tubes and couplings you need.

You can bend the copper pipe or use solder fittings, but the easiest way is to use compression fittings. 

Step 3. Shut off the water supply.

Step 4. Drill a hole in the wall

Use an impact drill and your largest masonry drill. Drill a little bit upwards from the outside.

Step 5. Secure the wall plate.

Drill holes for the plugs and screw the wall plate onto the outside wall.

Step 6. Fasten the tap.

Wrap three layers of Teflon tape clockwise around the thread of the tap and screw it in the wall plate.

Step 7. Cut the existing water pipe.

At the place where you want to connect, shorten the water pipe to be able to mount the T-piece of the compression fitting. This is done quickest and cleanest with a pipe cutter, but you can also use a hacksaw or angle grinder. File or remove the burrs before you tighten the compression fitting.

Step 8. Fasten the compression fitting on the pipe.

Step 9. Tailor the pipes to the outside tap and connect them with the compression fittings.

First check that everything fits exactly before you screw the couplings tight and put the pipes in place. 

Step 10. Secure the pipes with a few saddles.

Tip: With a hose coupling on the outside tap and the garden hose you have no hassle with clamps and all you have to do is click the hose.

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