Draining an outside tap?
Discussion
I've got an outside tap which, for obvious reasons in the current cold weather, I want to drain.
I've turned off the water supply to the tap using the stop valve inside the house, but when I then turn on the outside tap to drain the water, nothing comes out. As there is about a foot of (lagged) copper pipe running along the outside wall to the tap, there must be water to drain out.
I am assuming the non-return valve built into the tap, similar to that shown in photo below, is preventing the water from draining out or am I doing something wrong?
I've turned off the water supply to the tap using the stop valve inside the house, but when I then turn on the outside tap to drain the water, nothing comes out. As there is about a foot of (lagged) copper pipe running along the outside wall to the tap, there must be water to drain out.
I am assuming the non-return valve built into the tap, similar to that shown in photo below, is preventing the water from draining out or am I doing something wrong?
I've got an outside tap which, for obvious reasons in the current cold weather, I want to drain.
I've turned off the water supply to the tap using the stop valve inside the house, but when I then turn on the outside tap to drain the FROZEN water, nothing comes out. As there is about a foot of (lagged) copper pipe running along the outside wall to the tap, there must be fROZEN water to drain out.
Are you 36 hours too late?
I've turned off the water supply to the tap using the stop valve inside the house, but when I then turn on the outside tap to drain the FROZEN water, nothing comes out. As there is about a foot of (lagged) copper pipe running along the outside wall to the tap, there must be fROZEN water to drain out.
Are you 36 hours too late?
It probably won't drain by itself. To allow the water to run out air would need to be able to get in. Short of fitting a drain valve just after the stop valve to allow the air to enter there's not much you can do.
As long as you leave the outside tap turned on you should be ok. If the water does freeze it won't be restricted inside a closed section of pipe so shouldn't split the pipe. I've done this on my outside taps for years with no problems, and one of them includes about 2 feet of unlagged pipe. It freezes regularly but as long as the tap is open it's fine.
As long as you leave the outside tap turned on you should be ok. If the water does freeze it won't be restricted inside a closed section of pipe so shouldn't split the pipe. I've done this on my outside taps for years with no problems, and one of them includes about 2 feet of unlagged pipe. It freezes regularly but as long as the tap is open it's fine.
Harpo said:
I've turned off the water supply to the tap using the stop valve inside the house, but when I then turn on the outside tap to drain the FROZEN water, nothing comes out. As there is about a foot of (lagged) copper pipe running along the outside wall to the tap, there must be fROZEN water to drain out.
Are you 36 hours too late?
No, the water was running out fine yesterday afternoon despite the temperature around zero and about -3 the night before.Are you 36 hours too late?
I'll just leave the tap open, as suggested, and hope that's engough to stop any problems, although the forecast is for -7 later in the week.
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