Outdoor tap installation & repair — Oldham & Manchester
Outdoor taps take a battering from frost, hosepipes left attached over winter, and years of general neglect, and a lot of the ones I see have no way to isolate or drain them down at all. I fit new outdoor taps and repair or replace failed ones across Oldham and the surrounding area, with proper isolation built in.
What usually needs sorting
Outdoor tap problems tend to fall into a fairly predictable pattern:
- The tap has split or cracked after a hard frost and now leaks or won't turn off
- There's no isolation valve inside, so the whole thing has to stay off over winter
- A hosepipe left attached has caused water to back up and split a pipe
- You want a tap fitted where there isn't one, for a garden or a caravan connection
- The tap drips constantly even when fully closed
- Water is coming through the wall where the pipe passes through, not just at the tap
- An old tap has seized solid and won't turn at all
Clear quote before any work starts. A call-out fee may apply — always confirmed on the phone before we travel.
How I handle it
New fit or repair, the same principles apply — isolation and frost protection matter as much as the tap itself.
- 01
Trace the supply back inside
Before doing anything outside, I find where the branch comes off the internal supply and whether there's already an isolation valve. Most problems trace back to this point rather than the tap itself. - 02
Fit or repair the isolation valve
An outdoor tap without an internal stop valve has to be shut off at the main stopcock every winter, which is impractical. Fitting a proper isolation and drain-off point means the tap can be shut down and drained without affecting the rest of the house. - 03
Replace the tap and wall connection
A cracked or seized tap is replaced with a new one, and the wall entry point is checked and sealed properly so water isn't tracking back through the brickwork. - 04
Route the pipe with frost protection in mind
Where the pipe runs through an unheated space, it's insulated, and the outdoor section is fitted to drain down fully once isolated — a tap that traps standing water in a low spot will split again the first hard frost. - 05
Pressure test and demonstrate the shut-off
I test the new connection under pressure and show you exactly how to isolate and drain it down for winter, so it's not a mystery next time the temperature drops.
Why so many outdoor taps fail every winter
The single biggest cause of outdoor tap failures across this area is a hosepipe left connected over winter. Water trapped between the tap and the hose has nowhere to expand when it freezes, and something gives — usually the tap body itself, sometimes the pipe just inside the wall where you can't see it until it's already caused damage.
The second most common issue is simply no isolation valve. Without one, the only way to protect the tap is to turn the whole house's water off at the stopcock every time there's a hard frost forecast, which nobody actually does. Fitting an internal isolation and drain-off valve is a relatively small job that solves this permanently.
If you're getting a new outdoor tap fitted for the first time — for a shed, a greenhouse, or a caravan hookup — it's worth thinking about the run length and whether the pipe needs to be insulated along its full length, not just at the tap end.
Is this an emergency, or can it be booked in?
Both are fine — but it helps us prioritise if you know which one you're describing.
- The tap has split and water is running continuously outside
- Water is coming through an internal wall near where the outdoor pipe passes
- The tap drips but the leak is minor and outside only
- You want a new tap fitted for the garden season
- The tap has seized but isn't leaking
- You want an isolation valve added ahead of winter
Emergency? Here's what to send us
A photo or short video helps too. The more we know before setting off, the less time is wasted when we get there.
Your postcode
So we can tell you straight away whether you're inside the radius we cover.
What the problem is
In your own words — where the water is coming from and how long it's been going on.
A phone number
The best number to reach you on when we're close, so nobody is left waiting at the wrong door.
House or flat
Flats, shared risers and upstairs neighbours change how a leak has to be isolated.
Outdoor Taps — common questions
Why did my outdoor tap split over winter?
Almost always trapped water freezing and expanding — usually because a hosepipe was left attached, or there was no way to drain the tap down before the cold set in.
Can you add an isolation valve to an existing outdoor tap?
Yes, this is one of the most worthwhile small jobs for an outdoor tap — it means you can shut it off and drain it down for winter without affecting the rest of the house's supply.
Can you fit a tap where there isn't one currently?
Yes, as long as there's a reasonably accessible supply nearby to branch off. I'll check the route and give you a straight answer on what's involved before quoting.
Do I need to disconnect my hose every time I'm not using it?
It's good practice, especially heading into autumn and winter — a hose left attached is the most common reason outdoor taps fail during a frost.
What's the cost?
You'll get a clear quote before work starts once I've seen the tap and the supply route. A call-out fee may apply and is confirmed on the phone before I travel.
More answers on our plumbing FAQ page and in how it works.
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Call and speak to the plumber who will be doing the job — not a call centre. Lines are open 24 hours a day, every day.
You get a clear quote before work starts. A call-out fee may apply — confirmed on the phone before we travel.