Outside Tap InstallationWRAS-Compliant, Tidy FitBolton & Manchester
A neat, properly compliant outside tap with isolator valve and double-check valve fitted as standard. Ideal for garden use, car washing or pressure washers. Most installations completed in under two hours.
WRAS-compliant • Isolator + backflow as standard • Under 2 hours typical
Under 2 Hours
Time
WRAS-Approved
Compliance
Included
Isolator
Included
Backflow
Workmanship
Guarantee
A Proper Outside Tap — Done Right
An outside tap is one of the most useful additions to any home: garden watering, car washing, hosing down kit, filling paddling pools and pressure washers. A proper installation takes around 90 minutes and lasts decades.
Every outside tap we fit includes an internal isolator valve (so you can shut it off and drain it in winter to prevent frost damage) and a WRAS-approved double-check valve to prevent backflow contaminating the mains supply. Both are legally required under the Water Supply Regulations.
We core a neat hole through the external wall, sleeve it, fit the outside tap securely with proper sealant, and run pipework internally with a tidy finish. No exposed copper across the kitchen, no holes around the pipe.
Real Work Examples
Why a Cheap or DIY Outside Tap Causes Problems
Outside taps fitted without an isolator are a frost disaster waiting to happen — water freezes in the exterior pipework, splits it, and floods your wall cavity when the thaw arrives.
Taps fitted without a double-check valve breach the Water Supply Regulations and can — in the worst cases — siphon contaminated water back into your drinking supply when a hose is left submerged.
- Outside taps without isolators must be drained before every winter — most aren't
- No double-check valve = a legal breach of the Water Supply Regulations
- DIY installations often skip the wall sleeve, letting water run down the cavity into the brickwork
- Self-cutting tee fittings sometimes used by DIYers can fail under pressure within months
- Hose splitters and pressure-washer connections compound the backflow risk without a check valve
Our Process
Survey
We agree the best internal teeing point and external tap location for the shortest, neatest pipe run.
Isolate
Main water turned off, internal pipework drained at the chosen teeing point.
Core & Sleeve
Neat 22mm hole core-drilled through the external wall, with a copper sleeve fitted to protect the pipe.
Pipework & Tap
New copper run from teeing point to wall, isolator valve fitted internally, double-check valve and outside tap fitted externally.
Test & Tidy
System re-pressurised, tested under flow, sealant cured. Internal pipe boxed in or routed neatly. Work area cleaned.
Why Choose Conroy
Under 2 Hours
Most standard installations completed in 90 minutes. You'll have a working outside tap the same morning we arrive.
Isolator Included
Internal isolator valve fitted as standard — turn it off in autumn, drain the outside tap, and never worry about frost damage.
Backflow Compliant
WRAS-approved double-check valve fitted as standard — fully compliant with the Water Supply Regulations 1999.
Neat Internal Run
Pipework run tidily along skirting or boxed in — no exposed copper running across your kitchen wall.
Properly Sleeved
Wall hole core-drilled and sleeved to protect the pipe and prevent water tracking through the wall.
Fixed Price
Clear upfront price with no extras for sleeving, isolator or check valve. You see the final cost before we start.
Technical Detail
Tap Location
Most installations tee off the cold mains under the kitchen sink and exit through the external wall directly behind. Longer runs are possible but add cost; we'll discuss options on the day.
Frost Protection
With the isolator fitted, the winter routine is: turn off the isolator, open the outside tap to drain residual water, leave the tap open over winter. This prevents 99% of frost damage.
Double-Check Valve
A WRAS-approved double-check valve is a small brass fitting with two non-return mechanisms. It's a legal requirement on all outside taps and costs us a few pounds — there's no reason to skip it.
Drinking Water Safety
Outside taps without backflow protection have caused contamination incidents — typically when a hose is left in a paddling pool, animal trough or chemical container and a pressure drop sucks contents back into the main.
Pressure for Pressure Washers
Standard mains pressure (usually 2-4 bar) is plenty for domestic pressure washers. If you have a low-pressure mains supply, the pressure washer's own pump compensates — flow rate matters more than pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for something else? Phil also covers 24/7 emergency plumbing, full boiler installation and boiler repairs, annual boiler servicing, central heating installation, power flushing, leak detection and landlord gas safety certificates (CP12). Browse the full list on our services page or see recent jobs and customer reviews.
Based in Bolton, we work across Bolton, Manchester, Bury, Blackburn, Chorley, Wigan, Preston and Salford. See all areas we cover, learn more about Phil Conroy, or get in touch for a free quote.
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