Frost-Free Outdoor Tap Installation in Toronto

Signs you need a new outdoor faucet

Many homeowners first find out the tap froze when they turn it on in April and water sprays inside the basement wall. Other giveaways are a handle that spins without shutting off, constant drips from the spout, or a tap with no separate interior shut-off.

• Water leaking indoors when the outdoor tap is opened
• A tap that drips even when tightly closed
• No working shut-off valve inside the house
• Old tap mounted low where snow piles against it

What causes it in older Toronto homes

Original hose bibs on brick semis and detached homes were plain compression valves, with the pipe behind them full of water up to the wall. When the inside shut-off is missing or forgotten, freezing water expands and splits the pipe. Older homes also have thick double-brick walls, and a frost-free tap must be long enough to place its valve seat inside the heated envelope.

What we do on site, in order

1. We find the supply line and install or replace an interior quarter-turn shut-off.
2. A frost-free sillcock, cut to suit the wall depth, is fitted through the wall so the valve sits indoors.
3. It is pitched slightly downward so water drains out after each use.
4. A vacuum breaker is included to protect the drinking supply from backflow.
5. We seal the wall penetration and test for leaks inside and out.

What affects the price

We give you a price before any work. The main variables are wall thickness and material, how far the nearest supply line is, whether a finished ceiling needs to be opened, and whether a frozen pipe has already caused damage that has to be repaired. Adding a second tap at the back of the house costs more than swapping an existing one.

When to call right away

If water is leaking inside after you open an outdoor tap, close it and shut the interior valve, or the main if there isn't one, then call. Our guide on winterizing outdoor taps covers the fall routine, and if you are not sure where your main is, see finding the main shut-off. If water pools by the foundation instead, have a look at floor drain repair.

Extras worth adding at the same time

While the wall is open, many homeowners add a second tap at the back for gardening, or a dedicated tap near the driveway for car washing. A lockable handle helps where taps face a laneway. Every new tap should have its own accessible indoor shut-off so you can isolate it without turning off the whole house.

The job, in four moves

1. 1
   Empty the cabinet

   Shut-off stops tested first; seized ones noted for replacement.

2. 2
   Strip the old parts

   Supply lines, trap and tailpiece off; cartridge or stem pulled.

3. 3
   Fit new hardware

   New cartridge, stops or tap set, slip-joint washers renewed.

4. 4
   Run it hard

   Both temperatures at full flow, every joint wiped and checked dry.

Common questions