When the UK winter sets in, we rush to bleed the radiators and check the boiler. But amidst the Christmas shopping and the rush to insulate the loft, there is one critical plumbing fixture that is almost always forgotten: the outside tap.
At Plumbers 365, the first major freeze of December signals our busiest week for burst pipe emergencies. Plumbers 365 plumbing experts have often observed that damage is often catastrophic-not just a broken tap, but a flooded kitchen or ruined flooring.
According to plumbing experts at Plumbers 365, an insulated tap cover costs less than £10 and is the cheapest insurance policy against a £500+ flood repair bill. Plumbing experts advise clients to think of it as a warm winter coat for your tap. These inexpensive foam or polystyrene covers are incredibly effective for brass taps exposed to all atmospheric elements 24/7. When the temperature drops below zero, the wind chill factor can freeze the water inside the metal instantly. Plumbers 365 plumbing experts have often seen that the insulated cover traps warmth radiating from your house and creates a barrier against the freezing night air. For a few pounds, an insulated cover is the cheapest and easiest piece of insurance you can buy to prevent a frozen tap.
Plumbing experts at Plumbers 365 advise that isolating the tap means shutting off the water supply to it without turning off the water to your whole house. Your external tap should have its own internal isolation valve. Plumbing experts suggest to look for the water supply on the pipework leading to the outside tap, most commonly under your kitchen sink. It will either be:
Once isolated, go outside and turn the tap on. A small amount of water will drain out, and then it should stop. Plumbing experts at Plumbers 365 suggest to consider this as confirmation that the water supply is successfully isolated.
Plumbing experts at Plumbers 365 consider leaving your garden hose connected in freezing weather as the single biggest mistake you can make in the holiday season. A connected hose traps water inside the tap and the pipe leading through the wall. Plumbing specialists at Plumbers 365 have often observed that when this water freezes, it expands by about roughly 9% with immense force since even when you turn the tap off, a connected hose acts as a plug. It holds water inside the spout and the body of the tap.
As the water is trapped by the hose nozzle at one end and the internal valve at the other, this expanding ice has nowhere to go. The pressure it creates is powerful enough to split the metal tap body or, even worse, burst the pipe hidden inside your wall. Plumbing experts at Plumbers 365 advise that “Always disconnect your hose in November!”.
Plumbers 365 plumbing experts have often observed that split open tap is the direct result of a frozen, water-filled tap or pipe. As the water inside freezes and expands, the rigid brass or metal casing of the tap cannot stretch to accommodate the pressure. It simply gives way at its weakest point, causing a visible crack or split. Plumbers 365 plumbing experts have seen that homeowners often won’t notice this until the ice thaws and water starts pouring from the crack. The disaster happens when the temperature rises (the thaw). The ice melts, and mains-pressure water shoots out of the new crack, often spraying against the house wall and causing damp.
Yes, according to plumbing experts at Plumbers 365 the pipe often splits inside the wall cavity or under the kitchen sink, not just outside. Plumbing specialists at Plumbers 365 have often observed that the weakest point is the copper pipe located inside the wall cavity which is the section between the warm interior and the cold exterior. Plumbers 365 plumbing experts consider this to be a “hidden killer” because:
Plumbers 365 plumbing specialists advise clients that checking the internal pipework is mandatory if your outside tap freezes.
According to plumbing experts at Plumbers 365 if you don’t have an isolation valve, getting one fitted is a priority. While it seems simple, our experts strongly recommend it is a job for a qualified plumber because a small mistake can lead to a big leak. A plumber like those at Plumbers 365 can fit one quickly and reliably, giving you crucial peace of mind as you will need to cut the 15mm copper supply pipe inside the house and insert a compression isolation valve or “service valve.”
However, plumbing experts at Plumbers 365 have often seen clients who are a little handy ask our experts for a DIY instruction. So if you want to do it yourself then you can follow the steps:
If you are unsure about cutting pipes, call Plumbers 365. We can install one quickly, giving you control over your garden water supply forever.
Plumbing experts at Plumbers 365 suggest that patience and gentle heat are the key and often warn against using a naked flame like a blowtorch. Plumbers 365 plumbing experts advise to never use boiling water as the “thermal shock” of going from -5°C to 100°C instantly can shatter the metal or crack the washers.
According to plumbing experts at Plumbers 365, frost-proof garden taps are highly effective because the valve mechanism sits inside the warm wall cavity, not outside in the cold. A frost-proof (or frost-free) tap is cleverly designed so that the valve that actually stops the water is located deep inside the wall, in the warm part of the house despite its handle being outside. Plumbers 365 plumbing experts have often seen that when you turn it off, the water drains out of the exposed part automatically. According to plumbing specialists at Plumbers 365, frost-proof garden taps are more expensive to buy but eliminate the risk of freezing almost entirely.
According to drainage experts at Plumbers 365 in order to drain the water out of your external pipes isolate the internal valve, then open the outside tap and leave it open throughout the winter. Drainage experts at Plumbers 365 have often seen that simply turning off the inside valve isn’t enough; water is still trapped in the pipe between the valve and the tap. You need to:
If you woke up to a frozen pipe or a split tap, don’t wait for the kitchen to flood.
Plumbers 365 provides rapid winter emergency response across the UK. We can isolate the leak, replace the split copper, and install frost-protection systems to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
