Thick question re a water tap outside

kippers

Hi everyone, i've got a question that will probably be really obvious to most of you (but not to me, which is why i love this forum)....Is it ok to switch my outside tap on, or will it still be at risk from the pipe bursting if there is a frost?

(Sorry if this sounds too obviuos to some of you)

seletar

It depends where in the country you are.If up in the Hebrides it is probably
better to switch on when needed, whilst in London/Cornwall you are probably
okay to leave switched on.I am York based and my outside tap is switched
off except for when I wish to use it.Sorry I can`t be more assertive.

wendyl1967

I'm in Lancashire. I never turn my outside tap off. Never gave it a thought! It is on an outside wall straight outiside my kitchen sink. I wonder if that makes a difference. Not a long pipe?

littlereddevil

North east of scotland
Mine burst last year so def switch off in winter if you live north

wolfehouse

glasgow- my tap that went from house to garden burst during a coldish winter and i had a new one put in at the wall which i now turn off during the winter and turn back on just about now (april)

pboae

I'm in South Yorkshire and I have a run of lagged pipe outside to my tap. In the winter I turn it over night if there is risk of a hard frost, or if I'm away for a few days, otherwise it's on all the time. It's been OK so far this year.

It probably depends how often you use it too. I use it every day so even if the water is chilled or starting to freeze it doesn't have time to build up.

virgin_moneysaver

I leave mine on all year just disconnect hose at end of summer - but then I am in the sunny south whre its forecast 60F for Saturday - yipee!

ormus

here in manchester, mine is left on all the time. mind you the kitchen wall is very sheltered. it has a 6ft fence all the way around.

kippers

Hi

Thanks all for your replies... live in Leicester...shouldi risk it? We do still have frosts.

adypem

kippers wrote: »

Hi

Thanks all for your replies... live in Leicester...shouldi risk it? We do still have frosts.

I haven't had any issues with outside taps in the East Midlands, but then again there isn't a great deal of pipework that is outside the house.

vaio

If you do switch it off then open the tap to drain the pipe otherwise it can still freeze, you just won’t know until the summer comes and you turn it back on