What type of pump do plumbers use to pump out water from a pipe?

[Adsibob]

My garden tap is made of metal (brass I believe) but serviced by an external buteline pipe. Last winter my builder showed me how to empty that pipe for winter:

 

1. it has it's own stopcock inside the house - so first step is to close that
2. then open the external tap
3. then there is an inlet valve inside the house just next to the stopcock. My builder  attached a short hose to it and using his own lungs and mouth blew through it until he went a light shade of purple - this succeeded in purging the water from the pipe.

I have tried step 3 on my own and failed very quickly. I just don't have the blow.

 

One option is to purchase a cheap pump that can do this for me. Any recommendations?

 

Other option is to skip step3 and rely just on 1 and 2 and the fact that buteline state on their website that their pipes are frostproof. But the same website post also says "Lagging of pipes is recommended when installing the system in places exposed to continuous freezing temperatures" so I'm confused by how confident they are in this claim.

 

Thoughts? And quickly please... we are due to go sub-zero later this week!

[Onoff]

  On 18/11/2024 at 17:22, Adsibob said:

Thoughts?

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I asked my plumber mate and he said sh!t travels downhill and pay day's Thursday.

 

Seriously, I use one of these to suck heating oil through the line if my tank runs low and I get an airlock. You could "blow" with it too. 

[ProDave]

If the outside tap is fitted correctly, the pipe feeding it will go DOWN hill to connect to it.

 

Just open the tap and the little drain screw at the bottom of most outside taps, and it will be fine.

 

We have always done the same and never came to any harm in -10

 

[joe90]

  On 18/11/2024 at 18:00, ProDave said:

If the outside tap is fitted correctly, the pipe feeding it will go DOWN hill to connect to it.

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From what’s been said this is not the case if it requires blowing to remove the water. Down in Devon lots of butle pipes are used for drinking troughs out in the open so I would just do 1 and 2. Even if it does freeze and break the pipe you will not loose water (till you turn it on next spring)

 

[FuerteStu]

I've fitted two outside taps this summer, front and back. Brass ones with no exposed pipework, just the brass head. 

 

I've never bothered with outside tap draindowns before. This place had one already but it will be dead soon.. And my previous two houses had them. 

 

I never drained them down either. 

 

Have I been lucky where I am (East Anglia), or are you all being extra careful?

[Mike]

Provided you're pumping water, not sucking air, then a a Gardena Drill Pump is very effective - Available from Amazon & probably elsewhere.

[Nickfromwales]

  On 18/11/2024 at 18:00, ProDave said:

If the outside tap is fitted correctly, the pipe feeding it will go DOWN hill to connect to it.

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Say what?!

 

Is that a Scottish thing?? Have you had too much Sudafed max strength tonight?

[Onoff]

I just have these on my outside taps:

 

 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/essentials-outside-tap-cover/77873

[Adsibob]

  On 18/11/2024 at 18:00, ProDave said:

If the outside tap is fitted correctly, the pipe feeding it will go DOWN hill to connect to it.

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Nope! Presumably this is another balls-up by the BCO. They really should check for stuff like this. My outside tap is fed by a pipe which is laid under the patio and then it comes up on the side at ground level and rises to almost 70cm above ground level where it is attached to the fence.

 

I am encouraged by @Nickfromwales comment:

 

  On 19/11/2024 at 00:01, Nickfromwales said:

Say what?!

 

Is that a Scottish thing?? Have you had too much Sudafed max strength tonight?

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@OnoffI did purchase one of those a year or so ago, but came to the conclusion it was pretty pointless. Surely all that insulation jacket will do is delay the freezing by a day or two? If we have sub-zero temps for 3 or 4 days, it won't do anything.

  On 18/11/2024 at 22:34, Mike said:

Provided you're pumping water, not sucking air, then a a Gardena Drill Pump is very effective - Available from Amazon & probably elsewhere.

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I would just need the pump to drive air into the inlet that is inside my house, so no sucking. Have found the drill pump you mention here on Amazon) but not entirely sure how i would adapt that to work in my case, as I don't really have a hose to connect to, just a little inlet. I guess the hose can can go onto the inlet, but not in a secure way and so I expect it will just disconnect as i have no way to secure the attachment to the inlet.

[Alan Ambrose]

>>> Have I been lucky where I am (East Anglia), or are you all being extra careful?

 

I'm relying on the thermal bridge by the copper pipe and the lack of air tight sealing around it to keep the tap warm 🤨.