Making a garden tap HELP please for noob

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Hi, we've just given over part of our garden to growing vegetables and would love to install a tap in the area.

I want the most simple method, I have thought of running a heavy duty hose pipe from an unused tap in another part of the garden. The hose would have to be buried for about 5 meters and the rest could be run overground behind some bushes to the position I want the tap. However I have a few concerns that I'd appreciate some feedback on.

1. Will hosepipe be sufficient, given I would rather leave the original tap open I don't want a massive leak!
2. Connecting the hose to the input of the new tap (sure it can be done just don't know how!)
3. How is best to drain the system for winter months?

Thank you very much, I really need all the help I can so any response at all will be really appreciated thanks!
 
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The simplest, and most foolproof method, is to simply connect a quality hose to your existing tap, and run it to where you want it to go. Connectors such as Hozelock types are fine, especially the quality brass ones. You can get a tap to fit on the end of your run.
For the underground run you can lay the hose inside plastic drain if you want, but its the length exposed to the sun which will eventually deteriorate but that will take a while.
So, in winter simply turn the existing tap off and disconnect the hose - turning the new tap on will help it drain a bit to prevent ice. The hose is actually flexible enough to allow freezing anyway.
John :)
 
if its going underground you need this

50903.jpg
 
I quite agree, it would be MDPE for me....but I reckon the OP just needs a quick water supply rather than a permanent one. Thats how I read it anyway! :p
John :)
 
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Yes, blue mdpe.

Hosepipe will go very soft in hot weather, and if under pressure is very likely to come out of the hozelock connectors.

The modern fittings for MDPE are very good and very easy to use. The pipe is cheap and once done will last for yonks. It withstands freezing well too.
 
Thank you very much for your replies, I'm glad you have been able to approve my idea!

I have done a bit of research on the MDPE pipe and it looks good as well as relatively cheap, I do however worry that it too much of a mains pipe and will not flex enough to fit the bends i want it to. I have come across this which is more of a heavy duty hose.

My last main worry is how to attach the pipe to
a. the nozzle of the original tap (could do this with my current hose connectors but they often leek so I am looking for something more permanent maybe that even screws onto the tap directly)

b. the back of the new tap (this i don't know at all)

Thank you once again for your help, I can see it coming together now thanks!
 
Shh! Don't cut corners, use the mdpe. It'll radius to about 20 inches (fill it full of hot water to get really tight bends).

And, of course, there are right angle joints.

Don't use hose. Even the "Heavy duty" stuff won't last long and you'll regret it. The biggest job here is digging the trench and if you put anything other than mdpe in there you're the worst sort of bodger - one who uses an inferior product when he doesn't need to and against advice!
 
Thank you! I think I'm almost ready to go now!

I still don't know how I will attach the MDPE pipe to the garden tap, is there a straight forward adapter or will I need more than one, could you point me in the right direction please! Thanks

Can't say how useful you all are to me, it's great thank you
 
Fair enough question, but I want to keep the tap to avoid plumbing into the mains as i have now experience and would prefer not to have to pay for a professional seen as I want a simple and budget installation :)

thanks
 
MDPE is designed for a permanent and professional layout connected directly into your house main water supply. For underground applications, there isn't anything better. However to connect this stuff onto the spout of an existing tap would involve a bit of a bodge, to say the least.....hence my original post!
It is entirely possible to connect MDPE into the copper supplying your existing tap for a permanent connection - if you want to go down that route.
John :)
 
I want the most simple method, I have thought of running a heavy duty hose pipe from an unused tap in another part of the garden.

if the tap is in the garden it should be a plastic pipe and easy to connect to
 
Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions, I am now going to decide between getting a proffesional to plumb into the mains and use MDPE, or else just buy some thick hosepipe and do it all myself and see how long it lasts!! I suspect I will go for the latter option and revert to the first if it ever fails!

Thanks once again, I really appreciate the help.

TullioK
 

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