Outdoor water piping

[grim_d]

I built a covered deck for my neighbor last year and the outside tap is right in the middle of it, they've decided this annoys them now and have asked if I can relocate if, about 6ft from where it is now.

Quite happy doing a bit of plumbing just wondering what the best pipe to use outdoors is, it will be ran along the wall.

Black mdpe? Currently copper to the bib, copper would be my preference but it would almost certainly freeze and I don't know if I can rely on them to isolate it from the inside every winter

 

[123hotchef]

Or Blue MDPE, or white spedie fit

 

[grim_d]

PEX/speedfit ok outside? I know the fittings are very resistant to freezing as my workshop had a terrible habit of bursting the pipes until I redid in PEX.

Would be ideal as I have a quantity of layflat left over.

 

[Dave-sparks]

Whatever pipe you use it can freeze, assuming it is on show I'd be inclined to use copper as it will look a lot neater.

 

[grim_d]

Whatever pipe you use it can freeze, assuming it is on show I'd be inclined to use copper as it will look a lot neater.

It will freeze, that's fine, as long as it doesn't burst when it does?

 

[123hotchef]

I would not use copper for that very reason at least MDPE expands and contracts as it freees and thaws worse that will happen is it will pop a joint then u can re fit that joint after it thaws

 

[James1979]

Blue alkathene pipe. Farmers across the country can be wrong!

Push fit fittings for it are dead easy too. Get the ones that you tighten up with grips. If you get the other sort once you’ve pushed the pipe in you can’t get it out without a tool (shim of Stella can ). You’ll need pipe inserts also

 

[brightspark]

It will freeze, that's fine, as long as it doesn't burst when it does?

well the fittings will blow off when it does freeze ,compression or soldered copper if it isnt lagged its best having a shut off valve before it goes outside

 

[gaz1]

go back to original pipe refit in blue also fit a drain tap

any outside tap even insulated should be drained yearly many dont

only themselves to blame if it freezes and bursts but that donst matter to me it pays for emergency call out fix and repair

 

[Barking Mat]

Yes, what @gaz1 said, tap off, drain it.

go back to original pipe refit in blue also fit a drain tap

any outside tap even insulated should be drained yearly many dont

only themselves to blame if it freezes and bursts but that donst matter to me it pays for emergency call out fix and repair

 

[grim_d]

After a little research it would seem that MDPE and PEX are both polyethylene but PEX is cross linked which gives it better resistance to temperature (heat?)

Would seem to me that PEX (speedfit) would work just as well then with the bonus that I don't need to enbiggen the hole to the house and it's not blue.

However the layflat is polybutylene which I don't know about so I'll just avoid it.

Seem reasonable?

Regarding the drain, if I just give it a slight fall to the bib would that serve the same purpose? I guarantee they won't isolate and drain anyway.

 

[addjunkie]

Ive an outside tap run in pex, had no issues except the metal tap freezing up. Tap is the low point and we do sometimes forget to isolate it. Also not had any bother with blue stuff exposed on water troughs etc apart from they freeze up.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

only themselves to blame if it freezes and bursts

And as we all know, you can't fix stupid.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

"....guarantee they won't isolate and drain anyway...."

Given you posted the following in the "Things that bug me" thread, aren't you making a rod for your own back? Taking on responsibility for their anticipated future actions?
Just saying...

Things that bug me?

Everything... literally everything...including myself.

Stress and rage will take me long before my time.

 

[grim_d]

@slim_boy_fat

Yep. This bugs me too.

 

[grim_d]

"....guarantee they won't isolate and drain anyway...."

Given you posted the following in the "Things that bug me" thread, aren't you making a rod for your own back? Taking on responsibility for their anticipated future actions?
Just saying...

Nah, I told them it will need to be isolated in winter. Responsibility shifted.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Nah, I told them it will need to be isolated in winter. Responsibility shifted.

But it still troubles you that they probably won't

 

[grim_d]

But it still troubles you that they probably won't

If it wasn't that it'd only be something else.

I actually enjoy doing a bit of work for them. They are just so chill about stuff that it completely takes any pressure off.

 

[caprinut]

I have had blue PEX freeze does nothing to the pipe but it can push the fitting off over several freezing events, so I just soft malleted it back on when it thawed and can be bought in straight lengths so it can be made to look neat, looks attractive with brass Munson fittings.

Bert

 

[MattF]

But it still troubles you that they probably won't

Stop cheering him up.