Quick answer
Outdoor taps fail from rusted spindles, worn washers, and occasionally a cracked body after a hard Highveld cold snap. They live outside, unprotected and rarely serviced, so they age much faster than indoor fittings. Replacement is straightforward, and it is worth fitting a hose bib with a non-return valve so a connected hose cannot siphon back into the household supply.
Common causes
- Rusted or seized spindle from years of exposure
- Worn washer no longer sealing
- Cracked tap body after water froze inside it overnight
- Corroded thread where the tap enters the wall
- Perished seal in the wall-mounted elbow behind the tap
- Buried section of the supply line damaged by garden work
What you can do now
- 1Check whether the tap turns at all, or turns but delivers nothing — they point at different faults
- 2Look for a hairline crack in the body, which usually shows as a weep when pressurised
- 3Disconnect hoses before winter and drain any exposed line
- 4Insulate exposed outdoor pipework before the July cold snap
- 5Do not force a seized spindle; snapping it inside the wall elbow makes the job much bigger
When to call a professional
Replace it with a hose bib that includes a non-return valve, which prevents back-siphonage into the household supply. Call a plumber if the thread into the wall is corroded or the elbow behind it is weeping, since removing a seized tap frequently damages the fitting behind it and that repair means opening the wall.
Typical cost in Johannesburg
R350–R650
Indicative ranges only. We provide written, itemised quotes before any work.
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