"Phil L" wrote in message
. ..
Franz Heymann wrote:
:: "Phil L" wrote in message
:: . ..
::: Sue wrote:
::::: ........ how can I protect my outside tap from freezing up?
:::::
::::: Sue
:::
::: Turn the water off at it's supply...draining it is unnecesary as
::: any water which remains inside it will expand out of the tap if
::: you leave it in the 'on' position.
::
:: That depends on whether it freezes solid at the tap end first.
::
The water at the tap end will expand though the outlet...unless
there's a
long pipe (half a metre or more)outside, this will not cause any
problems.

Not if the water freezes solid at the tap end before the water in the
rest of the pipe begins to expand as it gets cold.

It is of the essence to realise that water starts expanding when its
temperature drops below 4 deg C, long before it freezes.

Franz