Every spring, the first warm weekend arrives and homeowners across the UK head outside to reconnect the garden hose. They turn the tap and water sprays everywhere except where it should.
At Plumbers 365, we call this the “First Turn Leak.” After months of freezing temperatures, outside taps and the pipes feeding them often suffer damage that only becomes obvious when you finally turn the water back on.
Here is your practical guide to safely reactivating your garden tap, fixing common spring problems, and preventing expensive damage before the summer barbecue season begins.
Considered one of the most common “first turn” problems, plumbing experts at Plumbers 365 have observed that it is caused by a failed gland packing or O-ring. Inside the body of the tap, around the spindle that the handle turns, there is a seal. Freezing temperatures can cause this seal to contract, perish, or crack. When you turn the water on, the seal can no longer hold back the pressure, and water is forced up and out around the handle spindle.
Plumbers 365 Expert Fix: Tighten the gland nut (the collar directly under the handle) a quarter-turn clockwise with a spanner. If water still sprays, the packing needs replacing. This is a simple job for most DIYers, but if the tap body is corroded, it is usually better to call our local team of expert plumbers at Plumbers 365 who can fit a new frost-proof tap.
Plumbers 365 plumbing experts have often seen that once a tap body cracks, it cannot be repaired. The metal has been fatally weakened by the immense pressure of expanding ice. Our plumbing experts claim the ice inside expanded by 9% and split the metal. The only solution is to replace the entire tap unit. Attempting to patch it with putty or tape is a dangerous and temporary fix that is guaranteed to fail under pressure.
A classic spring surprise according to plumbing experts at Plumbers 365, this is a major red flag for a serious problem and our experts advise to stop using the tap immediately. According to plumbing experts at Plumbers 365, water is probably leaking back along the pipe run inside the wall cavity, often because the external tap was not properly isolated or the internal joint has failed. This is the most destructive type of frost damage. The pipe froze and split during the winter, but as long as the internal isolation valve was off, there was no leak. The moment you turned the water back on and used the tap, water started pouring into your wall. You must turn the water supply to the tap off immediately and call a professional plumber like Plumbers 365.
Many homes have a dedicated shut-off valve for the garden tap. Plumbers 365 plumbing experts suggest locating the internal isolation valve (usually under the kitchen sink or in the cupboard on the other side of the wall) and turning it anti-clockwise before using your outside tap for the first time. This is usually a small valve on the pipework leading to the tap, most commonly found under your kitchen sink. It will either be:
Replacing just the washer is cheap and quick if the tap turns smoothly and shows no cracks according to plumbing experts at Plumbers 365. You can replace the washer if the tap body is in good condition. However, most outside taps over five years old benefit from complete replacement with a modern frost-proof model. Plumbers 365 plumbing experts have often observed that older taps often have corroded seats that continue to leak even with a new washer. A new frost-proof tap costs £15-£35 and usually lasts far longer. We recommend upgrading rather than patching up old taps each spring.
Plumbers 365 plumbing experts have often seen that in case of no water coming out of your outside tap when turned on, then the internal isolation valve may still be closed, the pipe may be blocked with debris, or the tap itself may be seized or frozen internally. Plumbers 365 plumbing experts suggest to see if you can answer the following:
Usually a sharp tap with a wooden mallet (never metal) can sometimes free it. If not, then call our local Plumbers 365 team because the tap needs replacing.
According to plumbing experts at Plumbers 365, the vast majority of domestic plumbing in the UK, including the supply pipe to your garden tap, is 15mm copper or plastic pipe. The tap itself will have a 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch male thread on the outlet where you connect your hose.
When buying a replacement, ensure it has a 15mm compression connection or comes with the correct olive and nut. Using the wrong size is one of the most common mistakes DIYers make, leading to leaks that only appear when the tap is first used in spring according to plumbing experts at Plumbers 365.
Winter corrosion often seizes the spindle according to plumbing specialists at Plumbers 365 who suggest not to force it with a large spanner as you will snap the stem. Plumbers 365 plumbing experts suggest to:
If it still won’t budge, it’s safer to call a plumber from Plumbers 365 to replace it.
No, not usually. As long as you have a working internal isolation valve for the garden tap, you only need to turn that off. This will stop the water flow to the outside tap, allowing you to work on it safely while the water inside your house stays on.
According to plumbing specialists at Plumbers 365, this is usually caused by either of the two things:
Try replacing the female connector on your hose first and see because this solves the problem 99% of the time. For the 1% of the time that it doesn’t reach out to our plumbing specialists at Plumbers 365.
That first turn of the outside tap is a moment of truth. If it reveals a problem, don’t let a small leak become a major issue.
Plumbers 365 is on call 24/7 to deal with all spring plumbing surprises.
Before you get the garden ready for summer, make sure your plumbing is too. If you discover a leak, call Plumbers 365.
