Frost and freeze checklist for garden bars: pipes, fridges, kegs and glass

Checked 10 November 2026, as the first frosts of the season start to show up in forecasts. Water expands as it freezes, which is why a single cold night can split a pipe, crack a tap or push the cap off a bottle in an unheated garden bar. The jobs below take an afternoon and are best done before the first hard frost, not after it.

Watch the forecast

The Met Office publishes weather warnings for snow and ice as well as wind and rain. A warning, or simply a run of nights forecast below freezing, is the cue to finish this list.

Outdoor taps and supply pipes

If the bar has a water supply, frost is the biggest risk.

• Turn off the isolating valve that feeds the bar.
• Open the tap at the bar and leave it open so the pipe can drain.
• Drain any outdoor tap on the house wall too, if it has its own isolating valve.
• Lag any exposed pipe that has to stay live, including the run between house and bar.
• Note where the stop valve is, so anyone in the house can find it in a hurry.

A split pipe in a timber building can soak the floor and contents before anyone notices. Our sink and water guide explains supply, drainage and frost protection.

Sinks, traps and drains

Water sitting in a sink trap or waste pipe can freeze too. Empty the sink, run a little non-freezing cleaner through if the maker allows it, and make sure the drain outside is clear of leaves so meltwater can get away.

Fridges in an unheated building

Electrical Safety First advises against using an ordinary fridge outside or exposed to the elements, and recommends following the maker's instructions. Every fridge has an ambient temperature range it is designed to work in, often shown as a climate class in the manual. A cold, unheated shed can fall below that range, and the fridge may stop working properly.

If the bar will be colder than the fridge is designed for, empty it, switch it off, clean it and leave the door ajar. If you keep food in it, the Food Standards Agency recommends 5°C or below; a fridge thermometer is the easy check. See garden bar fridges.

Kegs, cans, bottles and glass

• Cans and bottles can freeze and burst. Bring drinks into the house during cold spells.
• Kegs and beer-dispensing systems should be stored and cleaned as the maker or supplier instructs. Lines left full of beer through a frost are a mess waiting to happen. See beer taps.
• Glassware can crack if moved from a freezing shed straight into hot water. Let it warm up first.
• Stack glasses on shelves rather than in boxes that can get damp. See glass and storage.

Condensation

Cold nights followed by mild, damp days mean condensation on the inside of windows, metal and walls. Keep the vents open, avoid drying wet coats inside the bar, wipe windows and open up on dry days. Fabrics, cardboard and paper items are best taken into the house. Approved Document F explains the principles of ventilation in buildings, and our damp and ventilation guide applies them to a garden bar.

Paths and steps

Frosty decking and paving are slippery. Clean off algae now, consider grit for the steps and light the route. See garden bar flooring and lighting.

The checklist

1. Isolate and drain the water supply.
2. Lag pipes that stay live.
3. Check the fridge's ambient range.
4. Bring in drinks that could freeze.
5. Clean or store the beer system.
6. Open vents and remove fabrics.
7. Grit and light the path.

Go and find the isolating valve for the bar today, before you need it in the dark.