Outside Tap Security Box - Is there such a thing?

Faced with a similar problem, I just put a ball-valve on the feed to the tap inside the house and I only turn it on when I want to use it.

Roger.

Not exactly what you are asking for but we have a stopcock under the sink that shuts off the water to our outside tap.

Alan

Remove the handle or fit an internal stopcock?

On Tue, 8 May 2007 13:32:55 +0100 someone who may be "TheScullster" wrote this:-

Presumably you have installed a stopcock inside and a drain somewhere, so you can drain it down in winter. If so simply only turn on the tap when necessary.

If you haven't installed these...

How about a meter box. (as used for gas and electric meters) It'll the stop oiks and provide a degree of insulation from the cold.

There is a type with a square peg, shrouded flush by a round tube where the handle would normally be. The "key" is a normal looking brass tap handle with a square hole in a round stem. Kinda like an inverse railway carriage key.

We used to have one on the outside of the block of flats I lived in, for car washing etc. Good enough to defeat the kids. Try a plumbers merchant maybe?

HTH

Tim

================================== Try a google for 'tap security', where you'll find a pdf file under

Cic.

Is a separate drain c*ck really necessary? I'm planning to drill through my kitchen wall to install a garden tap sometime soon. I was planning on the basis that come the winter I would turn off the service valve inside and then drain the (minimal) external pipework by opening the tap itself, and leaving it open until the following spring.

Cheers!

Martin

No, it wasn't one of those. It was a bona-fide tap, but the top end *was* a bit like a drain c*ck, only a fraction bigger/thicker.

I have no idea what they are called though. "Security Tap" maybe... I'll do some googling later.

Cheers

Tim

That's what I do.

Don't forget the double check valve.

Ah, I sit corrected, I had a little google but nothing showing.

As already suggested arrow valves do a lot of security items. This one is the tap being mentioned I think. I seem to remember them from school.

=================================== They also show one built in to a wall which seems a bit over the top when one considers the more basic solutions suggested here.

Cic.

How about using an ordinary brass outdoor tap with the handle removed. Bring the handle to the tap when you want to use it...

On 8 May 2007 10:45:24 -0700 someone who may be Martin Pentreath wrote this:-

Depends on how the pipework is arranged and where the double check valve is.

Some people don't even bother to turn an external tap off in winter and get away with it because any ice can expand back inside the house.

Similar to most othe replies here. When I had the same issue (concern over stolen water) I fitted an internal service valve. This has the added advantage of allowing me to drain the outside pipes in winter.

At the end of the day, if someone is determined to steal your water, and you're away, there's not much that could protect the tap. Anything wooden or metal could be smashed off with a sledgehammer. Personally I think you're better off leaving the tap exposed so that any would-be- scrote can see immediately that it's not working and moves onto the next house.

You can get like normal taps that have a padlock fitted. In the last place I worked gypsies moved into the wasteland next door and ran a hose pipe to the outside tap in the loading area (bloomin cheek). Next day a tap with a padlock appeared. Need to remove padlock before you can turn the tap.

I forgot to turn the outside water off one year and the collar of the plastic connector burst, resulting in a spectacular fountain. So I fastened it back together with two nylon cable ties as a temporary measure. That was about six years ago, and it's still "temporary".

Nice one. I would call it "semi-permanent engineering".

I bet you replace the part for £2 when you want to sell the house to make an impression on prospective buyers and never get your moneys worth out of the new part.

Adam