Self-Cutting tap - will it power outside washing?

[Fastchas]

I wanted to add another outdoor tap to the front of the house, taking the water feed from the 15mm washing machine feed in the integral garage.

I thought about installing a traditional brass outdoor tap but I would have to install several 90deg joints, drill through 10" brickwork and have an unsightly tap on the front of the house. I would also have to cut the 15mm pipe to install a tee off it. A family member suggested just using a self-cutting tap with a 3/4" thread that a hose connector can attach to. It has a simple on/off tap on it as well. Then, he said, the tap is inside the garage, it's safe from frost and malicious tampering.
Sounds good.

I've bought the tap, but upon opening, it looks like after cutting & fitting, the internal hole which allows the water to the tap is only about 8mm.

I'm worried that this will restrict the flow to any hosepipe fitted and also impair the power washer if I use it.

Anyone else done the same? Any problems?

This is the one I bought;

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/flomasta-self-cutting-ta...

Edited by Fastchas on Friday 10th April 15:40

[Russet Grange]

I'd turn of the supply to the house and fit a proper tap. Dead easy with a couple of compression fittings.

There are probably speedfit options too, though if going that route you'll want to ensure earth continuity (very simple).

[WrekinCrew]

I think you're supposed to have a non-return valve for outdoor connections.

[OutInTheShed]

Depends how fussy you are and what your mains pressure is!

Your house may have a regulating valve reducing the pressure to 3 bar or so, in which case a self cutting tap will be disappointing for a hose.

I would get the blowlamp out and solder in a tee and sort out a tap. Compression or even pushfit would do the job.

Self cutting taps are excellent where you can't otherwise drain the pipe though, I keep one just for that.

[Belle427]

They really are dreadful things to be honest, I have had one fail fairly recently.
Its easy enough to put a T in and use a compression or push fit if your not confident with soldering, push fit problems usually come from user error more than anything and get a bad reputation but are very easy to use.

[x type]

I have one of them or similar , been in use for the last 25 years feeds my pressure washer / garden hose no problem, at all . The tap is under kitchen sink then used a washing machine feed type of hose to a tap outside .

I do disconnect it during the coldest winter months as the hose has about 2 foot outside and can freeze up

[RotorRambler]

The reviews on the Screwfix one
Quite a few used for outside taps, no complaints about the flow.

[ARH]

They work fine if installed carefully, done a couple over the years. But now with the likes of JG speeddfit, it is just as quick with these fittings. Surely you will still have to drill through a wall to get the tap outside.

[Mr Pointy]

Just try it & see. If the flow is rubbish then it can easily (two pipe cuts) be replaced with a compression version.

[Plus4Four#]

I fitted one to our previous house. In use for several years with no problems. I used an isolating valve to shut it off if needed plus frost protection for the tap.
Current house has one fully plumbed in with isolator and frost protection.
A plumber did it as part of a kitchen refurb.
Probably the better option but my experience of the self-cut was great so
wouldn't count it out.

[OMITN]

I did an outside tap from the garage/washing machine feed. Just used JG speedfit fittings. Was completely straightforward and didn t take very long (would have been quicker but I m an idiot and had to go to Screwfix twice ).

For my situation I already had a hose plumbed in within the garage, but that always leaked. The outside tap is so much better and doesn t require the garage door to be open (too heavy for my petite wife) for watering plants in the summer.

ETA:

Edited by OMITN on Wednesday 15th April 21:20

[gmaz]

The hole in the end of a standard outside tap adaptor is 8mm so it should be fine.

[Fastchas]

Thanks all, I've fitted a brass bib tap and a compression tee off the feed.