💧 Water & Weather
How to Winterise Outdoor Taps and Hoses
A frozen outside tap can split and flood a wall. Isolating and draining it takes five minutes.
Dana Whitlock · Sep 14, 2026 · 4 min read · 4 steps
Outdoor taps sit on external walls, exposed to the coldest air. When water inside them freezes, it expands and can crack the tap or the pipe feeding it — sometimes inside the wall, where leaks go unnoticed.
A few minutes before the first frost prevents this.
Isolate and drain
- Find the isolation valve on the pipe inside, usually under the kitchen sink or in a utility room
- Turn it off
- Open the outside tap and let it drain completely
- Leave the outside tap open slightly over winter so any trapped water can expand
No isolation valve?
Many older outside taps have no separate valve. A plumber can fit one cheaply, which is worth doing. In the meantime, fit an insulated tap cover and lag any exposed pipework.
Hoses and fittings
Disconnect hoses, drain them, and store them indoors or in a shed. Leaving a hose connected traps water in the tap and makes freezing more likely.
Spring restart
When the risk of frost has passed, close the outside tap, reopen the isolation valve, and check for drips or damp patches on the wall. See our frozen pipes guide for more on protecting indoor pipes.
This is general home-maintenance information, not professional advice. Building codes, permits, and safe practices vary by location — consult a licensed contractor, electrician, or plumber for work beyond your experience.