"Andrew Gabriel" wrote in message
...
In article o.uk,
"Dave Liquorice" writes:
On Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:45:44 +0100, Calvin Sambrook wrote:

You can get "fast flow" taps which are, well, fast flowing. Just like a
normal water butt tap but around 22mm OD.

Yes, my little local hardware store keeps both, and whenever
I take one to the till, they are sure to ask if you have picked
the right one for your application.

Our butt came with something similar but it siezed up within a year
or so and was never very good in the first place.

They have limited life as eventually fine grit gets in the sliding
bits. I guess I've replaced mine about every 4 years.

The 1/4 turn lever valve "just works".


I've had mine for varying lengths of time between about 10-15 years (ie. so
long ago I can't even remember doing the job but not too long after we moved
in) and 1 year. That said my application is slightly unusual in that they
don't get turned on and off too often as they are mostly used for linking
butts. We take water automatically into the pond and by pushing a container
in the top when filling watering cans etc.