Leaking, seized or frost-damaged garden taps put right.
Common outdoor tap problems
An outside tap has a hard life. The problems we are called to most are a drip from the spout, a leak from around the handle, a tap that has seized and will not turn, no water coming out, and water appearing inside the wall or on the ceiling of the room behind it. In winter, frost is a common cause, and a split can stay hidden until it thaws.
Frost and winter
If water in the pipe to an outside tap freezes, it can crack the tap or the pipe behind it. The damage is often not obvious until the weather warms up, when water starts leaking indoors. An isolating valve on the supply inside lets you shut the tap off and drain it before the cold weather. If yours does not have one, ask us about adding one. Fitting a new tap with isolation is covered on our outside tap installation page.
Repair, replace or upgrade
If the tap is simply worn, we can usually repair it. If it is corroded, seized or split, replacing it is normally better. When we look at an outside tap we also check how it is supplied. Outside taps usually need proper backflow protection on the supply, and older installations often do not have it. We will tell you what we find.
If it is leaking now
Turn off the isolating valve if there is one. If not, turn off your stop tap, or see stop tap replacement if you cannot find it or it will not turn. If water is coming into the house through a wall or ceiling, see emergency plumber and call us straight away. A small drip from the spout is not an emergency, but it wastes water and can lead to frost damage, so please do not leave it all winter.
Before we come
A photo of the tap and the wall around it helps, and so does a photo of the pipe inside if you can get one. Tell us where the water is showing and whether the tap has been frozen. For dripping taps inside the house, see tap repair.
Getting help
We do not list prices because every tap and wall is different. Tell us what it is doing and your postcode. Call 01709 456402 or ring the mobile 07401 429080, or use the contact page. Wider everyday jobs are on plumbing repairs. If your heating has failed, see boiler repairs or new boilers. We are a local Rotherham team, based on Moorgate Road.
FAQ
Can you fix a leaking outside tap, or does it need replacing?
It depends what has failed. A worn washer or seal can be repaired. A split or seized tap normally needs replacing.
Is a leaking outside tap urgent?
A drip is not, but a split pipe leaking into the house is. Shut it off and call us.
Can you fit a new outside tap instead?
Yes. See our outside tap installation page.