How To Get Warm Water From Outside Hose
Why Your Outside Tap Only Runs Freezing Cold — and the Two Easiest Ways to Get Warm Water Out of It
No plumber, no boiling kettles, no dragging a hose through the kitchen window. Here's how to get warm water from an outside tap or hose — for washing the dog, the bike, muddy boots, the car and everything else the garden throws at you.
If you've ever tried to rinse something off outside in the middle of winter, you already know the feeling.
You turn the outdoor tap on, grab the hose, and within about three seconds your hands have gone numb. The water coming out feels like it's been pulled straight from a mountain stream.
For years, that was my whole life. Muddy mountain bike after a ride? Freezing rinse in the dark. Wellies caked from the allotment? Cold hose. Dog back from the field looking like a swamp creature? Either a freezing blast outside, or the far worse option — marching him through the house to the bath.
My "solutions" were embarrassing. Boiling the kettle and running back and forth with a bucket. Once, memorably, feeding the hose in through the kitchen window from the sink tap — which works right up until the window won't shut and the kitchen floor is underwater.
So I assumed the only "proper" fix was an expensive plumbing job. Turns out I was completely wrong. There are two simple ways to get warm water outside, and neither one needs you to rip the garden apart.
→ Skip the story — show me the easy fixWhy Your Outdoor Tap Is Always Cold
Here's the bit nobody explains. Your outdoor tap is almost always teed straight off the cold mains — the same incoming supply that feeds your toilet and your cold kitchen tap. There's simply no hot-water pipe running out to the garden.
So whatever temperature the mains is sitting at, that's what you get. In the UK that's roughly 8–12°C most of the year, and colder in winter. That's not "a bit nippy" — that's cold enough to be genuinely unpleasant on your hands, and miserable for a dog standing in it.
Getting warm water outside, then, comes down to one of two things: either heat the cold water on its way out, or pipe your home's existing hot supply out to the wall. That's the whole puzzle — and there's a neat product for each.
The Ways People Try (and Why Most Are a Pain)
Before the two that actually work, here's what most people reach for first — and why they give up:
- The kettle-and-bucket shuffle. Slow, the water's stone cold by the time you've carried it down the garden, and there's a real scald risk with boiling water near pets and kids.
- Running a hose from an indoor hot tap. Kinks, leaks, a door or window that won't close, and you're tethered to one spot. Fine once; infuriating as a routine.
- A full plumbed hot outdoor tap. It works — but it's a proper plumbing job, often £200+, and total overkill if you mainly want to rinse things down.
None of those are how the people who do this every day — groomers, cyclists, yard owners, dog walkers — actually solve it. They use one of the two setups below.
The Two Setups That Actually Work
Both turn the cold tap or hose you already have into warm water. The only real question is whether you want something portable you just plug in, or something fitted and permanent.
- Plug in, connect, warm water out. Cold hose into one side, plug into a normal socket, set your temperature — warm water comes out the other side in 3–4 seconds. No tools, no plumbing.
- Goes anywhere. Garden tap, allotment, the yard, the side of a van — if there's a cold supply and a socket, you've got warm water.
- Cheap to run. Roughly 30p an hour. Gentle, comfortable flow that's kind on pets and fine for everything else.
- Renter-friendly. Nothing fixed to the wall, nothing to undo when you move.
- Fitted once, there forever. A sleek wall unit that connects under any sink — kitchen, utility, garage — and feeds warm water straight to an outdoor wall point.
- 30-minute DIY fit. Any competent DIYer can install it; a plumber would have it done in half an hour if you'd rather. No big job, no big bill.
- Hotter and higher pressure. Temperature controlled up to 55°C with a strong, fast flow — ideal for caked-on mud, the car, and bigger jobs.
- Connects to a garden hose too, with a standard 3/4" fitting, and tucks away neat and tidy.
Which One Is Right for You?
| Plug-In Mini | Home Wall Shower | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Plug into a socket — zero install | 30-min DIY fit under a sink |
| Best for | Renters, on-the-go, gentle rinses | Homeowners wanting it permanent |
| Temperature | Comfortable warm (around 30°C) | Up to 55°C |
| Pressure | Gentle, steady flow | Higher pressure, faster |
| Portable? | Yes — take it anywhere | No — fixed to the wall |
| From | £124 | £134 |
Not sure? Most people who just want warm water outside without any faff start with the Plug-In Mini — you can be using it ten minutes after it arrives.
What People Actually Use It For
Once there's warm water at the back door, you start using it for far more than you'd expect:
- Muddy mountain & road bikes
- Wellies, boots & trainers
- The dog after a wet walk
- The car & alloy wheels
- Kids' sandy feet & paddling pools
- Wetsuits, kit & waders
- Garden tools & wheelbarrows
- Paddleboards & bodyboards
- BBQ grills & decking
- Hosing down before you come inside
How to Set It Up
- Pick your optionWant it portable with zero install? The Plug-In Mini. Want it fitted and powerful? The Home Wall Shower.
- Connect to your supplyThe Mini: cold hose into one side, plug into a socket. The Home Wall: connect under any sink to your hot and cold feed (a 30-minute DIY job, or a quick plumber visit).
- Set your temperatureDial it to a comfortable warm — test it on the inside of your wrist. Warm in seconds, no preheating, no waiting.
- Rinse, wash, doneAdd the shower head or a soap attachment for more control, and rinse whatever needs it — before the mess ever reaches the house.
What Other Owners Say
Verified reviews from PetJet customers
"Easy to set up, and with the temperature set warm the water is perfect for washing down outside — the flow is excellent."
Verified review · Trustpilot
"So much easier than freezing my hands off with the cold hose. Worth the wait — really pleased with it."
Verified review · Trustpilot
"Genuine life saver. Warm water outside for the dog, the bikes and the boots — no more mud through the house."
Natasha H. · verified owner
Warm Water From an Outside Tap — Quick Questions
Can you get hot water from an outdoor tap?
Not normally — an outdoor tap is teed off the cold mains, so it only runs cold. To get warm water you either heat it on the way out (a plug-in unit) or pipe your home's hot supply to an outdoor wall point (a fitted unit).
How do I get warm water to an outside hose without a plumber?
The simplest way is a plug-in electric unit: cold hose into one side, plug into a socket, and warm water comes out the other in a few seconds. No plumbing or tools needed.
What temperature does it reach?
The plug-in Mini gives a comfortable warm (around 30°C) at a gentle flow. The fitted Home Wall Shower is temperature controlled up to 55°C with higher pressure.
Does it need an electrician or plumber?
No. The Mini plugs into a standard socket. The Home Wall Shower is a 30-minute DIY install under any sink — though a plumber can fit it quickly if you'd prefer.
Can I use it to wash a car, bike or dog?
Yes — that's exactly what it's for. Warm water outside is ideal for bikes, boots, cars, garden gear, kids' feet, wetsuits and pets, rinsing the mess off before it reaches the house.
⚠️ A Quick Note on Availability
PetJet is a small British team, and these two are among the most popular things they make — especially heading into the muddy months when everyone suddenly wants warm water outside.
If they're in stock when you read this, it's worth sorting now. When a batch sells out:
- There can be a wait for the next run
- Current bundle pricing isn't guaranteed to return
- They're sold direct — not on Amazon or in shops
Two Ways This Goes
Next muddy ride, walk or wash, you're back at the freezing tap with numb hands — or trailing mess through the house again.
The kettle-and-bucket routine continues. Another winter of cold-water faff.
Plug in the Mini, or fit the Home Wall in half an hour. Warm water, outside, on demand.
This weekend's mud gets rinsed at the back door — bike, boots, dog, car — before any of it comes inside.