Anyone crack a frost-free hydrant?

[drumminj]

Discovered today that my woodford yard hydrant sprays water out the head casting when it's on/open. There's a hairline crack in the head casting as you can see in the photo below.

Woodford tells me it's "freeze damage" and not a manufacturing defect. Given the hydrant was closed/drained, I fail to see how there would be water in there to freeze, let alone cause this damage. I'm in middle TN where we don't get a ton of freezing weather, but did go 2 days without getting above freezing last week.

Anyone else have this happen with a hydrant?

 

[Alan W.]

I had one crack like that during the summer years ago.

 

[Chewwy]

Is it a Woodford Model Y34 freezeless yard hydrant?

The Y34 has the shut-off valve is located below the frost line where water in the stand pipe is allowed to drain from the valve body to prevent freezing. If so, seems the Woodford should accept responsibility for the freezing damage

 

[dieselscout80]

I’ve been putting a 90 degree elbow on the drain port that points downward to ensure that hydrant drains.

Also gravel around the base.

 

[Sportsman762]

There are a few potential causes for your situation.

• In heavy clay soils a frost free hydrant has no place to drain the water and can back up as a result.
• If you have soil that normally drains poorly but still drains if you use the hydrant several times in a short period it can exceed what the ground will allow to peculate away and back up in the hydrant.
• A third option is that the hydrant is not buried deep enough for the weather conditions, if the hydrant is not deep enough the water could freeze and backup on the next use.

Woodford offers hydrants with 1' to 7' bury depths.

I have a hydrant that is in heavy clay soil with a 3' bury depth, it drains poorly so we had to dig a hole and fill it with gravel for it to drain into. I have used Woodford hydrants daily in -15 (and colder) weather without problems. However those were in a sandy soil with a 7' bury depth.

Generally Woodford hydrants are considered the best around. Based on my experience it looks like the hydrant did not drain properly which lead to freezing.

 

[drumminj]

Is it a Woodford Model Y34 freezeless yard hydrant?

The Y34 has the shut-off valve is located below the frost line where water in the stand pipe is allowed to drain from the valve body to prevent freezing. If so, seems the Woodford should accept responsibility for the freezing damage

Yes, it's a Y34. But I called and spoke to someone there and emailed a picture - they say not a warranty issue.

It's a 2' burial model and our frost line here is about 12". I did put gravel in the bottom when it was installed, but we do have heavy clay soil as you dig deeper. When I replace this I guess I'll dig it a bit deeper and add more gravel for drainage.

I do have another hydrant that's been installed for 3 years (this one has been in for 1.5). I've had no issues with that one.

Agree Woodford has a great reputation and reviews. Honestly I'm disappointed in them not standing behind it, but perhaps there's an install issue I missed. it's a shame that basically any crack is considered a freezing issue by default, vs assuming it is installed correctly. I can't know if it's not draining without taking it apart...

 

[drumminj]

I had one crack like that during the summer years ago.

During the summer? Any guess the cause?

 

[GrandpaSmurf825]

It's critical that they be set in a gravel base so the water can drain away and of course the valve be safely below frost line. There are literally thousands and thousands of them that have been in service for years without issue. I know ours was approaching 50 years old on the farm.