ᐅ Outdoor Faucet – Which Material Is Best?

Created on: 11 Jun 2019 10:16
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FelixK
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FelixK
11 Jun 2019 10:16
Hello,

We have been busy working in our garden for the past two weeks. Currently, we are installing our garden irrigation system with pop-up sprinklers, etc.
In this context, we also want to replace our existing outdoor water tap. At the moment, it is still connected to the house water supply. We now want to replace it with a tap connected to our garden pump.

What material would you recommend for the branch pipe, a T-joint, and two garden taps? Brass? And do I need a protective coating for this – the existing one is painted green, but I am not sure if that was for aesthetic reasons or if it served a functional purpose.
What diameter would you choose for the pipe running vertically from the 32mm (1 1/4 inch) HDPE pipe up to the T-joint? The same 32mm (1 1/4 inch) or thinner?

Thank you very much and best regards

Felix
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Gartenfreund
12 Jun 2019 06:21
A brass tap does not need to be painted.

Ours is probably the original one (installed before my time) and is therefore about 65 years old. Brass only tends to darken slightly over time.

I would continue using the same pipe size for as long as possible and only reduce the size at the tap if necessary by using a reducing nipple.

I’m not very familiar with plastic pipes, but I believe the same principle applies: there should be a slope toward the pump to allow the pipe to be drained through a tap in autumn.

By the way, from the house to the garden tap (total length about 5 meters (16 feet)), a galvanized pipe was in place for around 60 years. It was removed a few years ago because I needed to dig a larger hole exactly at that spot, and the pipe was in the way. Afterwards, a larger galvanized 1" pipe was newly installed there.
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Nordlys
12 Jun 2019 08:16
Go visit cemeteries. What kind of faucets do you see there? Brass. Go to a plumber and buy something like that. K.
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FelixK
12 Jun 2019 08:25
Hello both,

Thank you very much for your replies.

@Gartenfreund: I will also use 1" (25mm) pipes for that. So far, I haven’t found a suitable brass pipe online, but I’ll just check at the hardware store. I believe I’ve now figured out how to connect them: using compression fittings. I was worried that I would have to solder, press, or cut external threads on the pipe myself to get the right length.

To drain the faucet, I have an air connection on my water manifold behind the pump. At the end of the summer, I dismantle the pump, close the connection to the pump inlet with a ball valve, and then blow out the pop-up sprinklers—and in the future also the faucet—using a compressor.

@Nordlys: I think so far, the faucets are also brass. I’m familiar with that from the cemetery as well. My only problem is that I don’t know all the materials and am therefore never quite sure which material is used for what.

Thank you very much and best regards

Felix
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Gartenfreund
13 Jun 2019 01:18
I have not come across a brass pipe being used for water supply lines.

Only plastic, galvanized steel, copper, and stainless steel. But I know brass only for fittings, nipples, and similar parts—however, as I said, I have never seen a brass pipe itself.
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FelixK
15 Jun 2019 21:45
I have now solved it using PE pipe, which I run up to a PP fitting, and from there into a brass T-piece, and from there into the two brass valves.

The advantage for me is simply the easier handling. I'm just being pragmatic about it.

Best regards

Felix