On this page
- Why outside taps freeze before anything else
- Outside tap frozen? What to do right now
- How to tell if your outside tap is split
- Outside tap leaking after frost: repair or replace?
- How to isolate an outside tap for winter
- Garden tap frost cover and other ways to protect it
- Who is responsible for a burst outside tap?
- Need a plumber for a split outside tap?
- Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
- Most outside taps have an isolating valve indoors, often under the kitchen sink or where the pipe passes through the wall. Turn it off before you thaw anything.
- Thaw with warm water or a hot towel. Never use a blowtorch, heat gun or naked flame on a pipe or tap.
- A split tap body or pipe usually leaks only once the ice melts, so watch the tap and the inside wall for drips after a thaw.
- Isolate and drain the tap for winter, then fit an insulated tap cover. Severn Trent offers free tap jackets through its Get Water Fit scheme while stocks last.
- Replacement outside taps must have backflow protection, normally a double check valve, under the water fittings regulations.
If your outside tap is frozen, turn off its supply from inside the house first, then thaw it slowly with warm (not boiling) water or a towel soaked in hot water, and check for leaks as it defrosts. A frozen outside tap only becomes a problem when the ice splits the tap body or the pipe behind it, and that split usually shows itself as a leak once the thaw comes. Isolating the tap before you thaw it means a hidden split cannot pour water into your wall or garden.
Outside taps are the most exposed bit of plumbing on most homes: a short length of pipe, often uninsulated, poking through a cold wall. Here is how to deal with one that has frozen or split, and how to stop it happening again.
Why outside taps freeze before anything else
An outside tap sits on the coldest face of the house with only a few centimetres of pipe between it and the warm indoors. Water standing in that short section has nowhere to go. As it freezes it expands, and Severn Trent’s winter advice points out that this pressure can split pipes or pull joints apart.
Three things make an outside tap more likely to freeze:
- A dripping washer. A slow drip keeps a thin film of water moving through the spout, which freezes into a plug and works back towards the pipe.
- A hose left connected. Water trapped in the hose connector and the tap can freeze and crack the tap body.
- A north or east-facing wall. Taps that never see the sun in January stay below freezing for days at a time during a cold snap.
The frozen pipe guides we have already published cover the plumbing inside your home. This one focuses only on the tap outside and the pipe that feeds it.
Outside tap frozen? What to do right now
Work through these steps in order. They take ten minutes and avoid the most common mistake, which is thawing a split tap with the water still on.
- Find the isolating valve. Follow the pipe from the back of the outside tap to where it comes through the wall indoors. Most installations have a small valve on that branch, often under the kitchen sink, in a utility room or in the garage. It may have a lever, a small handle or a screwdriver slot.
- Turn it off. A lever valve is off when the lever sits across the pipe. A slotted valve is off when the slot is across the pipe. If you cannot find a separate valve, use the main stopcock. Our guide to finding and testing your stopcock shows where to look.
- Open the outside tap. Leave it open so meltwater can escape and pressure does not build up as the ice softens.
- Thaw it gently. Wrap the tap and the exposed pipe in a towel soaked in hot water, or pour warm water over them. Repeat until water runs. A hairdryer on a low setting is fine if the cable and plug are kept well away from water.
- Check for leaks. With the tap still open, briefly turn the isolating valve back on and watch the tap body, the joint at the wall and the pipe inside. Any drip, spray or damp patch means frost damage.
- Close the tap. If everything is dry, close the tap. If the weather is still freezing, isolate and drain it again (see below).
Never use a blowtorch, heat gun or any naked flame to thaw a tap or pipe. It can melt plastic fittings, scorch the wall and, on copper, heat the pipe enough to damage nearby soldered joints.
How to tell if your outside tap is split
Frost damage is not always obvious while the pipe is still frozen. Ice can hold a crack closed, and the leak only appears hours later. Here is what to look for once things warm up.
| What you see | Likely cause | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Water spraying or weeping from the tap body | Cracked tap casting | Tap needs replacing; isolate it until then |
| Drip from the spout with the tap closed | Worn or damaged washer | Tap repair or replacement; a drip invites the next freeze |
| Leak where the tap meets the wall plate | Split pipe or joint just behind the tap | Pipe repair needed at the wall |
| Damp patch on the inside wall or ceiling below | Split on the indoor section of the branch | Isolate at once; possible hidden leak |
| No water at all after thawing | Ice further back, or valve still off | Check the valve, then thaw the indoor pipe gently |
An outside tap burst inside the wall can soak plaster and floor joists before you see it. If you spot a damp patch, keep the supply off and read our guide to signs of a hidden water leak.
Outside tap leaking after frost: repair or replace?
Once the tap is isolated, there is no rush. A leak behind a closed valve cannot get worse. The right repair depends on where the damage is.
Damaged washer or spindle
A tap that drips from the spout but has an intact body can often be rewashered. That said, outside taps are cheap fittings, and many plumbers will simply replace an old one, since it also gives the chance to bring the backflow protection up to standard.
Cracked tap body
A split casting cannot be repaired. The tap has to be replaced.
Split pipe behind the tap
If the pipe has split where it passes through the wall, a plumber will cut out the damaged section and remake the joint. If the pipe run is long and exposed, it is worth adding proper insulation or rerouting it at the same time.
Backflow protection when replacing
According to WaterSafe, the water fittings regulations say outside taps should always have a double check valve to stop dirty water being drawn back into the mains, for example from a hose left in a bucket or pond. Newer homes often have the valve on the supply pipe; older homes usually have it built into the tap. WaterSafe also notes that check valves should be replaced every ten years. If you have a tap replaced, ask for a WRAS-approved tap with an integral double check valve, or confirm one is already fitted on the pipe.
If you are not confident cutting and joining pipe, call a plumber. A badly made joint inside a cavity wall can leak slowly for months.
How to isolate an outside tap for winter
The simplest way to stop an outside tap freezing is to empty it. With no water in the tap and the last stretch of pipe, there is nothing to expand.
- Disconnect and drain any hose, then store it indoors or in a shed.
- Turn off the isolating valve indoors.
- Open the outside tap and leave it open for a few minutes to let it drain.
- If the valve has a small drain cap or screw, open it over a bowl to empty the indoor section.
- Close the outside tap (or leave it slightly open if your plumber recommends it for your layout) and fit an insulated cover.
- Label the indoor valve so everyone in the house knows what it does.
If your outside tap has no isolating valve at all, ask a plumber to fit one next time they visit. It is a small job that makes every future winter easier.
Garden tap frost cover and other ways to protect it
Isolating and draining is the best protection. If you need the tap during winter, for example to wash a van or fill animal troughs, these help:
- A garden tap frost cover. Foam or insulated jackets slip over the tap and fasten behind it. Severn Trent customers can request free tap jackets and pipe lagging through the Get Water Fit scheme while stocks last.
- Lag the exposed pipe. Use waterproof foam lagging on any pipe on the outside wall or running through an unheated garage.
- Fix drips promptly. A tap that is dripping in November will probably be frozen by January.
- Keep the house warm. Running the heating at a low setting during a freeze protects the indoor part of the branch. See our advice on protecting pipes from freezing.
If the cold has caught pipes indoors as well, our guide to frozen pipes and what to do right now covers kitchens, lofts and boiler pipework.
Who is responsible for a burst outside tap?
Your water company maintains the mains and the service pipe in the street. Severn Trent, which supplies most of Stoke-on-Trent, says anything inside your property boundary is the homeowner’s responsibility, and the outside tap and its feed pipe fall into that. If you have no water and your neighbours are also affected, the issue is likely on the network side, and Severn Trent’s 24-hour line is 0800 783 4444. If only your home is affected, call a plumber.
If water from a split pipe has damaged your home, your buildings insurance may cover the damage. Check your policy wording before arranging repairs and take photos of the leak.
Need a plumber for a split outside tap?
If your outside tap is leaking, the pipe has split inside the wall, or you want an isolating valve and a compliant double check valve fitted before the next cold spell, our team can help. We cover Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Kidsgrove and the surrounding Staffordshire and Cheshire towns. For an active leak, call our emergency plumber in Stoke-on-Trent, or contact Gasmaster to book a visit.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I pour boiling water on a frozen outside tap?
It is better not to. A sudden jump from below freezing to boiling can stress brass and copper and crack plastic parts, and the water quickly freezes on the ground beneath you. Warm water or a towel soaked in hot water does the job more gently. Always turn the supply off indoors first in case the tap is already split.
Should I leave my outside tap dripping to stop it freezing?
No. A slow drip from an outside tap tends to freeze into a plug of ice, which then works its way back up the spout. Leaving it dripping also wastes water. It is far more reliable to isolate the tap from inside, drain it and fit an insulated cover for the coldest months.
How long does a frozen outside tap take to thaw?
A frozen spout often frees up after a few rounds of hot towels or warm water. If water still will not flow after half an hour of gentle warming, the ice is probably in the pipe behind the wall or the indoor section. Check the isolating valve is open, warm the indoor pipe gently, and call a plumber if it will not clear.
Do I need a plumber to replace an outside tap?
Replacing a tap on an existing threaded fitting is straightforward for a competent DIYer, as long as the supply is isolated. A split pipe, a new isolating valve or bringing backflow protection up to the water fittings regulations is better left to a qualified plumber, especially where the pipe runs through a cavity wall.
Is an outside tap leaking after frost covered by home insurance?
Damage to your home caused by water escaping from a frozen or burst pipe is commonly covered under buildings insurance, but the tap itself is often treated as wear and tear. Policies vary, so read the escape of water section and any excess before you claim, and keep photos of the damage.
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Abdul runs Gasmaster Plumbing & Heating and has worked on boilers, heating and gas appliances across Stoke-on-Trent since 2005. He is Gas Safe registered (reg. 220932), and these articles come from his day to day work in homes and businesses across Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire.
