Outside Tap Fitting and Installation
A properly fitted outside tap has three things: a double check valve so garden water cannot flow back into your drinking supply, an isolation valve inside the house so you can shut it off for winter, and a pipe route that is insulated against frost. We fit new outside taps, move existing ones and replace taps that leak, drip or have split after a freeze.
Why the check valve matters
A hose left in a water butt, a pond or a bucket of weedkiller can siphon dirty water back into the house supply if the pressure drops. Water regulations require backflow protection on outside taps for this reason, and the usual way to provide it is a double check valve, either built into the tap or fitted on the pipe just before it. Many older outside taps have none, so it is worth checking yours.
Isolation and frost protection
Borders winters are hard on outside pipework. A short length of pipe through an exterior wall can freeze overnight and split, often without you noticing until it thaws and leaks. We fit an isolation valve inside, usually under the kitchen sink or in a utility room, with a drain point so the outside section can be emptied before winter.
Outside, the pipe is kept as short as practical and lagged with insulation suitable for exterior use. An insulated tap cover adds another layer of protection in a cold snap. Our guide to winter-proofing a Borders home covers this and the other pipework worth protecting.
- Turn off the inside isolation valve in late autumn
- Open the outside tap to drain the section of pipe
- Fit an insulated cover over the tap
- Disconnect hoses so water is not trapped in the fitting
Fitting a new outside tap
We agree the position with you, usually near where you wash a car or water the garden, then take a supply from a suitable cold pipe inside. The pipe goes through the wall with a sleeve, the tap is fixed securely to the wall, and the isolation valve and check valve are fitted. Before leaving we test for leaks and show you where the isolation valve is.
If you want a tap on a garage, a far wall or the other side of the house, a longer run is possible, but it needs more insulation and sometimes a different route. We talk through the options on the visit.
Leaking, dripping or frozen outside taps
A tap that drips usually needs a new washer or cartridge, while a tap that leaks from the wall or behind the fitting may have a split pipe, often from frost damage. If an outside tap has frozen, turn off the isolation valve or the main stopcock before it thaws, and call us. Our guide on how to turn off your water shows where to find the stopcock. For other leaks and small jobs, see plumbing repairs.
We cover Kelso, the Scottish Borders and East Lothian.
Outside Tap Installation questions
Does an outside tap need a check valve?
Yes. Water regulations require backflow protection on outside taps, normally provided by a double check valve, to stop garden water being drawn back into your drinking supply.
How do I stop my outside tap freezing?
Turn off the inside isolation valve before winter, open the outside tap to drain the pipe, disconnect any hose and fit an insulated cover.
Can you move an outside tap?
Yes. We can reposition it, or add a second tap, taking a new supply from inside and insulating the new pipe run.
My outside tap has no isolation valve. Can you add one?
Yes. We fit an isolation valve with a drain point inside the house so the outside section can be shut off and emptied for winter.
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