Outdoor tap cover for frost protection – pack of 2, 20 x 15 cm
This outdoor tap cover is a padded hood made of waterproof fabric: it slips over the garden tap and fastens around the pipe with a hook-and-loop strap. The pack contains two identical covers. In winter, the outside tap is one of the most exposed parts of a house: it sits outdoors, open to wind and rain, and on sub-zero nights the water left inside it can freeze. Ice blocks the tap and can damage it.
What it does, in practice
The cover is for outdoor taps: on the outside wall of the house, in the vegetable garden, in the courtyard or on the terrace. It insulates the tap from the cold air and shelters it from wind, rain, snow and frost. It is not a heater and does not produce heat: it slows down heat loss from the tap and reduces the risk of it freezing. That is why it works best when no standing water is left in the tap. Before a hard frost, it is best to turn off the water supply to the tap and drain it. If you don't need the tap in winter, the cover can stay on until spring.
Size: will it fit my tap?
Laid flat, each cover measures 20 x 15 cm: 20 cm from the opening to the bottom and 15 cm wide. These are external measurements: because of the padding, the space inside is about a couple of centimetres smaller. It fits garden taps with a twist handle (screw-down taps), even with a small hose connector screwed on. On lever taps, especially those with a long lever, on double taps and on taps with bulky fittings, it may be a tight fit or may not go on fully. Before ordering, measure the tap including the handle and the hose connector: from the wall to the tip it should be at least a couple of centimetres under 20 cm, and at its widest point at least a couple of centimetres under 15 cm. On lever taps, after fitting the cover, check that it hasn't moved the lever and that no water is coming out of the tap. It comes in one size only.
How to fit it
Slip the cover over the tap and tighten the hook-and-loop strap behind the tap, around the pipe. Press the closure down firmly so that no gaps are left for cold air to get in. No tools are needed and you don't have to touch the plumbing. If you need the tap during the winter, undo the strap, slide the cover off and put it back after use. If you won't be using it, before a hard frost it is best to turn off the water supplying the outside tap, open the tap to let all the water drain out and disconnect the garden hose, then refit the cover.
Material and colour
The outside is black Oxford fabric, waterproof; inside there is insulating padding. It closes with a hook-and-loop strap. The pack contains 2 identical covers: for two taps, or one in use and one spare. To insulate the other cold spots as well, browse our thermal insulation for the home and pipework.
Frequently asked questions
How do you stop outside taps from freezing?
Before winter, turn off the indoor isolating valve that supplies water to the outside tap. Then open the outside tap, let all the water drain out and leave it slightly open. Disconnect the garden hose and empty it. Finally, cover the tap with an insulating material that also shelters it from rain and wind: that is exactly what this cover does. Protect exposed pipes near the tap separately, with pipe insulation tape; if your water meter is outdoors too, it is worth covering it with a water meter frost cover.
Is the cover enough on its own?
For a few nights of frost it may be enough: the cover slows down heat loss and reduces the risk of the tap freezing. However, it does not produce heat. When a hard frost is forecast, it is best to turn off the water supply to the tap and drain it, then put the cover back on. Where the frost lasts for days on end, in the mountains for example, it is worth adding a pipe heating cable with a thermostat.
Is it waterproof?
On the outside, yes: the Oxford fabric keeps out rain and snow. However, if the tap drips, the water stays trapped inside the cover and turns to ice in a frost. Before fitting it, check that the tap turns off fully. If it leaks, replace the washer if it is worn, or tighten the gland nut if it has worked loose.
The tap is already frozen: what should I do?
Thaw it slowly: use a hairdryer on its lowest setting, held at a distance and away from any dripping water, or wrap the tap in cloths soaked in hot water and replace them as soon as they cool down. Keep the tap half open while the ice melts. Never use a naked flame. Once the water is flowing again, check the tap and its fittings for cracks; then it is best to turn off the water supply to the tap, drain it and refit the cover.
How is it different from a frost-free tap?
A frost-free tap is a different tap, installed in place of the one you have: it shuts off the water further back, inside the wall where it is less cold, so the part that sticks out stays empty. This, on the other hand, is a cover: it goes over the tap you already have, with no building work and no plumber.
When do you put it on and when do you take it off?
Put it on in autumn, before the first frosts. If you don't need the tap in winter, it is best to fit it after turning off the supply and draining the tap. Take it off in spring, once the frosts are over: let it dry and store it away. The following winter you simply put it back on, with no need to buy a new one.
What's in the box?
Two identical black outdoor tap covers, each measuring 20 x 15 cm laid flat.
For businesses and professionals
We issue an invoice with every order and provide a tailored quote for bulk orders. We are listed on MePa as StickersLab s.r.l.: if an item is not in our catalogue, we can list it on request.
