Problem draining outside tap

[b23]

Hi all,

I'm trying to drain my outside faucets for the winter (in a house I bought last year). Here's the problem I'm running into: inside, I shut off the water to the faucet. Then, I open the outside tap and it starts to drain. After an hour, there's still a trickle of water coming out. If I shut off the outside faucet and wait an hour, then when I turn it on, there's a quick burst of water and then it starts to trickle again.

Does this mean there's a problem with my inside shutoff valve?

Thanks.

[Gingerbread Man]

Sounds like the inside isolation is letting by.

You'll have to turn the mains off to the house and then replace the isolation.

[RichB]

b23 said:

<stuff> ... Does this mean there's a problem with my inside shutoff valve?

Yep...

[b23]

Well, shoot. All right -- thanks for the replies.

Is it just a matter of buying a new shutoff faucet, or is there more to that part of the system?

[Gingerbread Man]

b23 said:

Well, shoot. All right -- thanks for the replies.

Is it just a matter of buying a new shutoff faucet, or is there more to that part of the system?

What does the isolator look like?

An outside tap should be fed from the incoming cold main. So turn off the incoming cold main and open the kitchen/ outside tap (which ever is lowest) to drain down. Depending if the isolation is higher or lower than an outlet will dictate if it'll have water in it or not.

With a bucket/ towels under the worn valve, replace with a new one. If like for like, you should be able to get away with not having to alter any pipe work.

Shut taps, turn the water on and check for leaks.

[b23]

It's one of those six-pointed wheels. And the outside tap is lowest.

So, I'd shut off the water main, open the outside faucet to drain the pipe. Then, replace the inside six-pointed shutoff wheel?

[Gingerbread Man]

b23 said:

It's one of those six-pointed wheels. And the outside tap is lowest.

So, I'd shut off the water main, open the outside faucet to drain the pipe. Then, replace the inside six-pointed shutoff wheel?

It's isolated with a gate valve?



Gate valves are for low pressure and should not be fitted to mains (high) pressure pipework.


Replace it with a stopcock which is suitable for mains pressure pipework.