outside tap has frozen

[careergirl]

do I just wait for it to thaw out or do I need to do something else?

1. find the internal stop cock that supplies water to that tap, and turn it off (that should have been done before the frosty weather started). If there is no internal stopcock, you are ghoing to have trouble as it will freeze again and sooner or later you will have a burst. If there is no stopcock, identify the pipe. If you are fond of DIY and can do simple plumbing, you can fit a valve yourself, if not you will have to find someone who can. Turning off the supply to the tap and the unprotected pipe is the most important and urgent thing.

2. If you can, open the outside tap to relieve any pressure as it thaws. Leave it open until you turn on the stopcock again in spring.

3. It is not very cold (here at least) so it will probably thaw out during the day. If not you can pour warm water over it.

4. you can buy an outside tap protector in stiff grey plastic foam. There must be no exposed metal. Unless the outside tap is on a warm wall, this will only delay freezing rather than prevent it, so it is still important to turn off the stopcock