Can you install a pot filler on an exterior wall?

If you are wanting to install a pot filler on an exterior wall, here we share the workaround to keep the pipe safe from freezing and incorporated a bumpout range into the kitchen design to accommodate the plumbing for the pot filler on an outside wall.

When we were remodelling our kitchen, I was excited to add a pot filler. I designed the whole kitchen and was in love with the layout before my husband pointed out that we couldn’t run a water line in the exterior wall due to freezing risk (hello 4 seasons!).

I was adamant that we find a workaround… and after having this pot filler for 4 full winters with some very cold stretches, I’m ready to share that workaround with you.

You can see our full kitchen remodel before and after right here.

Let me be clear that we are not plumbers, we are DIYers. I did consult with a plumber, general contractor, and… my dad ;) before deciding to go ahead with this. But of course with anything DIY- take this on at your own risk or consult with a professional in your area that knows your climate :)

I’ve invited my husband to write this post since this was really his project and these terms are in his wheelhouse… not mine! So, meet Shane!

As part of our kitchen renovation we were excited to add a pot-filler above our stove. However, the addition of this plumbing on an exterior wall posed a problem. 

In many kitchens, you would find a sink, dishwasher, etc. on an outside wall, but because the water lines and drainage run through the cabinets and not directly inside the exterior wall cavity, the risk of freezing water lines is mitigated. (ie the water and drainage are routed through the cabinet base, not in the wall behind the cabinet). 

Also, due to the age of our house, the exterior walls are only framed with 2” x 4” studs, not 2” x 6”, giving our exterior walls less insulation value than a newer home would have. 

To avoid the risks associated with installing a water line on an exterior wall to service this pot filler, we got creative with the kitchen cabinet design and with the framing around the range. 

Because of the overall scope of the kitchen and dining room renovations, the wall where we would locate the stove was partially demolished (windows being moved or removed entirely, a wall coming down between the two rooms, etc.). When we rebuilt this wall, we brought it to a finished state including insulation, vapour barrier, and drywall.

From there, once we had  cabinet and overall kitchen layouts firmed up, we set about building a secondary “bump-out” wall in the spot which would feature the range at the center and a 12” cabinet either side of the stove. This secondary wall was anchored to the floor joists below and to the exterior structural wall behind it.

The thought with adding these cabinets to the “bump-out” was to prevent the range “bump-out” from looking like an afterthought, and to give this feature wall an intentional and stylish look. The bumped out range and cabinets is a common choice in kitchens, but the walls don’t usually bump out with that. This does definitely disguise the wall bump out!

We wanted this bumpout to be as unobtrusive as possible so we framed it at the minimuc clearance it needed. We framed the bump out wall using 2” x 4” lumber on flat with an additional 1×4 on flat, and then added 2” x 4” blocking on flat in specific locations to anchor the water line and the threaded pipe for the pot filler to mount to. This left the space the 1×4 was in for the water line and pipes to run through as shown above.

The water line was routed to come up through the floor and through the bottom plate of this new wall, then secured to the back side of this blocking. We ensured the line was mounted right in the center of the wall (side to side) to ensure a symmetrical look behind the stove, relative to the cabinet either side. 

This blocking was mounted on flat to the inner front edge of the new wall, meaning the water line was towards the front of the new wall cavity and did not come in contact with the drywall of the exterior wall. 

We also ran the electrical line for the stove through the floor and into this wall cavity, and mounted the electrical box for the stove plug in this wall. 

Notes: 

• When determining the exact width of the wall relative to the stove and cabinet dimensions, we needed to ensure we accounted for drywall thickness on the small “sides” of the wall, as we wanted the wall tiles to line up with the countertop edges when facing the stove 
• The rooms underneath the kitchen / dining areas were unfinished at the time of the renovation, so adding the plumbing and electrical through the floor and into this new wall was much more straightforward than it otherwise could have been 
• You can also drill holes in the bottom of the bump out wall to allow for airflow to keep the cavity warm in the winter.

Then… finish it off like a regular wall!

The pot filler we installed in this kitchen is an affordable option from Amazon (here). I love the matte black finish and the double shut off means that leaking isn’t an issue even if one seal wears.

Colleen, again! I really love how this turned out. Not only is the pot filler a feature I’d dreamed of, but the bumped out cabinets adds some interest to the kitchen. I chose to frame out our range hood the width of this bump out as well. I like that it is symmetrical and again, disguises the wall bump out a bit. It’s actually bonus storage too! You can see how that opens up for hidden storage.

You can see our full kitchen remodel before and after right here.

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