How to protect outdoor taps from freezing as Met Office predicts cold snap for Scotland

Temperatures are set to plummet across England and Scotland in the coming days. If you’re a regular outdoor tap user, perhaps as a farmer, equestrian, or post-game rugby boot cleaner, you’ll know the havoc that freezing temperature can play with our handy spouts. According to the Met Office, there is "a major change in the weather from this weekend, as an early winter cold spell arrives bringing the potential for disruption for some next week".

But fret not, you can beat the freeze with the Augola Outside Tap Cover for £8.99 down from £10.99 at Amazon.



You can save another 15% by claiming the voucher beneath the listed price, too. By strapping one of these to your tap, you shouldn’t get any icy blockages laying waste to your best-laid plans. Acting as a cosy jacket for your tap, this two-pack simply slips over the tap before being fastened securely with the velcro straps.

They’re filled with thick, insulating cotton that should withstand even the harshest of cold snaps, and the exterior layer is waterproof too. READ MORE: Shoppers rush to snap up 'winter essential' for banishing condensation at 21% off READ MORE: Early Black Friday deal sees £80 off energy-saving smart thermostat There’s a reflective band around the velcro so you should be able to pick it out even in the dark. If you only need one, you can opt for the single pack for £5.

99 instead. With an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars from almost 2,000 ratings, it seems these tap covers cut the mustard for most customers.

“Very easy to fit and easy to undo when you need to use the outside tap,” said one five-star review. “They fit very well with a velcro fastening so you can put them on nice and tight,” said another five-star review. “They also have a reflective strap so that you can see them when dark if you need to.

Very good product and price.” “The covers feels great and you can feel a good level of insulation that will protect the pipes. Better still, the velcro strap ensures that you get a good tight fight to minimise any exposure,” added another reviewer.

Some have been unconvinced by their insulative abilities, however. “The tap cover is a bit thin and I’m not sure it will be effective in the really cold & icy winter. I’ve used bubble wrap to double up,” said a three-star review.

Another added: “It’s not particularly thick so remains to be seen how well it insulates.” If you’re keen to see some alternatives, Wowcher has some for £4.75 each , albeit with a reflective strap.

For £4.29, Robert Dyas has some plastic covers that look a little more permanent when they’re on the wall but are just as easy to affix and remove..