Fitting an outside tap connected to your existing supply
Outside Tap Installation
Outside tap installation involves running a new supply pipe from your existing internal water system, through the external wall, to a tap fitted outside — typically for a garden hose, pressure washer or garage — usually with an internal isolation valve and drain-down point to protect against frost.
Definition
What Outside Tap covers
An outside tap is fed from a branch off your existing cold water supply, run through the external wall to a tap point, commonly on a rear or side wall near the garden or a garage. Best practice includes an accessible isolation valve inside the property so the outside tap can be shut off and drained down over winter to prevent frost damage.
Suitable for
- Properties without an existing outside tap
- Replacing a damaged or leaking outside tap
- Adding a second outside tap in a more convenient location
- Fitting a tap for a garage, greenhouse or outbuilding
Not suitable for
- Properties on a shared or metered supply where the pipe run needed exceeds what a standard installation covers — assessed on site
- Sites where the nearest suitable internal supply pipe is a long distance from the wanted tap position, which may need a different approach
Process
How the work is carried out
- 01
Site visit
Identifying the best route from the existing supply to the wanted tap position, and where the isolation valve will sit.
- 02
Installation
Running the new pipework, drilling through the external wall, and fitting the tap and isolation valve.
- 03
Testing
Pressure testing the new run and checking for leaks at all joints.
- 04
Handover
Explaining how to isolate and drain down the tap ahead of winter to prevent frost damage.
Typical timescale
Outside tap installation is typically completed within half a day to a day, depending on the length of pipe run and how accessible the wall is to drill through.
Cost guidance
Outside tap installation typically costs £120–£250 per job in our area, with the price mainly driven by how far the tap position is from the existing internal supply pipe and how much wall needs to be drilled or chased. We provide an itemised quotation after a site visit rather than a fixed headline price.
Limitations and exclusions
- The tap and any fittings are supplied to a standard specification unless a specific product is requested
- Making good external render, brickwork or internal decoration disturbed by the pipe run is quoted separately
Areas we cover
Outside Tap across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and South London
Local property styles, planning authorities and neighbourhood coverage for outside tap in each town we work in.
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FAQs
Outside Tap FAQs
Do I need to do anything to protect my outside tap in winter?
Yes — an outside tap should be isolated and drained down before the first hard frost each year, using the internal valve fitted at installation, to avoid the pipe splitting when water inside it freezes.
Can you fit an outside tap to a garage or outbuilding away from the house?
Yes, provided there's a practical route to run the supply pipe. The further the run, the more it affects price, so we confirm the route and cost on a site visit.
Will fitting an outside tap affect my water pressure indoors?
A single outside tap fitted correctly, with the right pipe size, typically has negligible effect on indoor pressure. We size the connection appropriately during installation.
Discuss your outside tap project
Tell us about the property and what you have in mind, and we'll arrange a site visit.
Last reviewed 2026-07-28.