Crappy outside tap; how to replace/upgrade?

[Dr G]

Morning DIYers of Pistonheads; I have a limp tap.

It was fitted in a hurry a couple of years ago using a B&Q self-tapping outdoor tap kit. Pressure was initially ‘acceptable’ given that it was only for watering garden and the occasional car wash. Pressure is now unusable. Think ‘going for a wee in summer when you haven’t really had enough to drink that day’.

Install under the sink looks like this:



The slightly jaunty angle was me nipping it up to eliminate poor fitting, that made no difference.

As you can see the gap it’s in is fairly tight.

What should I look to upgrade or replace it with?

If replacing would I be better installing in another location? What to repair old hole with?

Reasonably competent DIYer; fixed toilets and electric shower fine but had little experience with copper piping.

[andy43]

Cut 1.5” section of holed pipe out, fit speed fit push fit tee, add 2’ of copper pipe thru wall, fit proper tap on wall outside.
Or turn existing furred up tap off, fit identical next to it

[Dr G]

I lack the room to get a T piece in there; there's barely 35mm between the "shoulders" of the neighbouring joins.

Is there any reason I can't partner the cold feed to the washing machine? It already has the same 3/4" fitting the feed to the outside tap does.

[andy43]

If as the pic suggests the cold feed comes down from the chrome valve, lose everything below the valve and just go with pushfit for w/m and garden tap. I like speedfit, if you stay with copper pipe and deburr well (proper pipe cutter massively useful) you don't need the inserts for plastic pipe.

[Dr G]

Thanks; will figure out best fittings for the space we've got

[hellorent]

The trouble with those "easy fit" tap kits is the bore made in the copper pipe is only abt 6/7mm, try to put a copper tee in some where, as that's a abt the only proper fix that will give you a good flow.

Edited by hellorent on Saturday 4th April 13:39

[Turn7]

If the pressure has very recently dropped off, dont forget that the whole world is at home drinking tea right now.....

May just be a tempp drop in local pressure ?

[Dr G]

I wondered that but no issues with any other tap. I also temporarily swapped the washing machine and outside tap hoses which gave me perfect pressure straight away.

I think it’s just the general uselessness of the self-tapping doodad.

[Fallingup]

I'd put money on it being the anti-syphoning valve inside the brass fitting that's causing the problem. Remove it and it should flow much better. That's what happened with ours and its worked fine eversince.
It's been a while since I did it but if I remember correctly, all you do is turn the supply off. Remove the hose connector. Unscrew the small screw on the left side of the brass housing. The anti syphon bit should then fall out. May need a nudge with a screwdriver. Tighten the side screw again and refit hose.

Edited by Fallingup on Saturday 4th April 15:16

Edited by Fallingup on Saturday 4th April 15:37

[Dr G]

Even when it did work though the pressure was limiting; given parts cost <£10 I’m just going to replace it with a better flowing solution.

[Black_S3]

Looks like you’re going to be hard pushed to get any sort of fitting in there once you remove the self tapper as there won’t be enough length left on the pipe. If you can solder/have the kit it’s not a big job to sweat that bit of pipe off and replace just the bit the self tapper has burst but failing that it’s either call someone in or replace quite a bit of that with plastic. You might be best asking for quotes to replace the outside tap before you go buying a blowtorch or a st load of plastic fittings.

[Fallingup]

Dr G said:

Even when it did work though the pressure was limiting; given parts cost <£10 I’m just going to replace it with a better flowing solution.

Up to you. There's no problem with the flow on mine. Even use it for the power washer. Have you connected it to a mains pipe. There'll be little pressure if it from a tank.
An advantage with these fittings is that when it's freezing outside you can turn it off inside and open the outside tap to let the water drain out.

Edited by Fallingup on Saturday 4th April 20:04

[Dr G]

Thanks for the suggestions; with space constraints and poor performance otherwise I’m going to stick with replacement elsewhere and plug the old tap.

I will try removal of the non-return valve just in case but I don’t think it will overcome the very small opening water flows through. It is mains-connected but we’re not blessed with amazing water pressure at the best of times.