Fit an outside tap in Lincolnshire

Fit an outside tap: the basics

What the job involves

An outside tap is teed off the cold supply inside (usually under the kitchen sink), run through the wall and fitted with an isolation valve and a double-check valve so garden water can't flow back into the drinking supply. It usually takes a plumber an hour or two if the kitchen is on an outside wall.

What to ask a pro, and what to have ready

Say where you'd like the tap and where the kitchen sink is. Ask for a fixed price including the check valve, an isolation valve and an insulated cover for winter.

Safety and good to know

Water regulations require backflow protection on outside taps, so make sure a double-check valve is fitted. In frosty weather turn the inside isolation valve off and open the outside tap to drain it. LincsDirectory doesn't vet or endorse businesses — always check credentials and get a written quote.

Good to know

a tap on the north side of the house freezes first; a self-draining frost-proof tap or simply isolating and draining it in winter avoids a split pipe. If the nearest cold pipe is a long way from the outside wall, the plumber may suggest running the pipe through a cupboard rather than under the floor.

Written by LincsDirectory from public guidance. It is general information, not advice for your situation. LincsDirectory doesn't vet or endorse businesses — always check credentials and get a written quote.