An outside tap saves hauling watering cans through the house — but it has to be fitted with winter in mind, or the first hard frost can split the pipe inside your wall.
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How an outside tap is fitted
The tap is teed into the cold water supply inside the house, usually under the kitchen sink, and the pipe runs through the wall to the tap on the outside. The important part is inside: a proper isolating valve on the feed, so you can turn the outside tap off and drain it down before winter. A tap without one is a burst pipe waiting for a cold snap.
The hole through the wall is drilled at a slight downward angle so any water left in the pipe runs out rather than sitting in the wall, and the pipe is insulated where it passes through. The tap itself is fixed to a backplate so it stays solid when a hose is tugged.
Where the tap can go
The easiest position is on the wall directly behind the kitchen sink, where the cold supply is close. Taps on other walls are possible but mean a longer pipe run, which adds to the work. We will look at where you want it, tell you honestly what is involved, and check the wall is suitable — a cavity wall needs a little more care than a solid one.
If you want a tap at the far end of the garden, that usually means burying a pipe rather than running it from the house wall. It can be done, but it is a bigger job and worth discussing before you commit.
Looking after it
Turn the internal isolating valve off and open the outside tap before the first frost, so the pipe empties
Disconnect hoses over winter — a full hose left attached can freeze back into the tap
If the tap drips from the spout in summer, it is the same washer or cartridge job as any leaking tap
Water regulations
An outside tap should have a double check valve fitted so water from a hose lying in a puddle cannot be drawn back into your drinking water. It is a small fitting and we include it as standard — it is the kind of detail that matters.
Booking
Ring 07429 632804 or send a photo of where you would like the tap on WhatsApp. While we are there, we can also check your stopcock turns freely — the two jobs go together naturally.
Common questions
Outside Tap Installation FAQs
Clear answers before you arrange a visit.
How much does it cost to fit an outside tap?+
It depends on how far the tap is from the cold supply and what the wall is like. A tap behind the kitchen sink is the simplest case. Send us a photo of the position and we will explain what is involved.
Do I need to turn an outside tap off in winter?+
Yes. Turn off the internal isolating valve and open the outside tap so the pipe drains. Water left in the pipe can freeze, split it, and flood the wall when it thaws.
Can an outside tap be fitted on any wall?+
Most walls, yes, but the position of the cold supply inside decides how much work is involved. The wall behind the kitchen sink is usually the simplest.
Why does my outside tap drip?+
The same reason indoor taps drip: a worn washer or cartridge. It is a quick repair, and worth doing before the drip ices up the path in winter.
