Replacing an outside tap
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You shouldn't need to isolate from the street, there should be a stop cock internally which will just isolate the house in question - the neighbours will be upset if it's off a shared main and you turn off their water...
Find the stop cock and turn it off. There might be a drain cock near it which should let you drain all the water from the system, in which case attach a hose to the end and run it outside or somewhere you don't mind the water going - I wouldn't put it in the sink because the height of the hose will stop all the water getting out the system, and you'll only get rid of all the water above the height of the sink.
If there isn't a drain cock, you'll have to just open the taps and do it that way.
Make sure you open the cold tap upstairs as well so that no water gets caught in a vacuum as the vacuum may break when you cut into the pipe and you'll get wet...
As for the connection, you can cut in wherever (in theory), just make sure it's after the water meter if they have one.
Easiest way is to get some speedfit fittings as these will just push onto the pipe rather than having to solder anything. You can even use them with copper.
As for the tap, ideally it needs to have an integral non-return valve to stop stagnant water from a hosepipe for example getting back into the house drinking water. If the tap has been bought and you're not sure whether it has a NRV, open it up and blow into the outlet, if air goes through, it's not got one.
You can pick a separate valve up for a few quid and fit it before the tap so that's no biggie.
I'd put an isolating valve in as close to where you've cut into the system as possible to turn the tap off from inside as well.
Find the stop cock and turn it off. There might be a drain cock near it which should let you drain all the water from the system, in which case attach a hose to the end and run it outside or somewhere you don't mind the water going - I wouldn't put it in the sink because the height of the hose will stop all the water getting out the system, and you'll only get rid of all the water above the height of the sink.
If there isn't a drain cock, you'll have to just open the taps and do it that way.
Make sure you open the cold tap upstairs as well so that no water gets caught in a vacuum as the vacuum may break when you cut into the pipe and you'll get wet...
As for the connection, you can cut in wherever (in theory), just make sure it's after the water meter if they have one.
Easiest way is to get some speedfit fittings as these will just push onto the pipe rather than having to solder anything. You can even use them with copper.
As for the tap, ideally it needs to have an integral non-return valve to stop stagnant water from a hosepipe for example getting back into the house drinking water. If the tap has been bought and you're not sure whether it has a NRV, open it up and blow into the outlet, if air goes through, it's not got one.
You can pick a separate valve up for a few quid and fit it before the tap so that's no biggie.
I'd put an isolating valve in as close to where you've cut into the system as possible to turn the tap off from inside as well.
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Internal isolating valve, double check valve, sleeve pipe through the wall, fix tap to wall outside.
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Or fit a tap with the valves already in. Bob
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Regulations require double check valve to be fitted Internally ,due to issues with freezing causing them to fail .
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