Frost Free Hydrants

[kcflhrc]

I just bought one at Home Depot, seems to work just fine.

 

[SPYDERLK]

What brand?

 

[kcflhrc]

What brand?

It's the only one Home Depot sells in stores, Everbilt I think is the brand.

 

[rgr33]

I have four Merrill brand hydrants that have been in the ground for 15 years. I did get a used one for free, and ended up having to put new seals in it as it leaked. Toolk 2 big wrenches and a big ***** cheater bar to get the head off. If I had that job to do again, I probably wouldn't.

 

[Paddy]

They freeze due to ground water. Unless you can insure ground in not saturated, they will freeze. Dig a post hole, they fill up with water pretty quickly!

Even if you dig a 5 ft deep hole and fill with gravel, water table will just fill it too

 

[kcflhrc]

They freeze due to ground water. Unless you can insure ground in not saturated, they will freeze. Dig a post hole, they fill up with water pretty quickly!

Even if you dig a 5 ft deep hole and fill with gravel, water table will just fill it too

Ground water shouldn't be freezing 4' down and that is typically how deep, at least in my area, you should bury the waterline. You don't fill the hole with gravel, just gravel around the drain then dirt on top.

 

[HeLa]

if your hydrants are freezing they are either not draining or not buried deep enough.

these are best brands, from my experience:
Woodford
Merrill
Campbell

great tip re: disassembly/re-assembly before installation, turnkey


i did a few this past summer. some of my "rules":

1. always put an elbow on the subgrade drain outlet to help keep it clear

2. stainless oetiker clamps and brass fittings if attaching to poly (no plastic barbs or worm clamps)

3. lots of crush wrapped in geotextile fabric

4. name-brand hydrants with local replacement/rebuild parts availability (list above)

5. drain/waste stop valves placed as necessary to isolate legs in case of repair/failure



i special-ordered THIS woodford for installation in my barn. it wasn't cheap but the build quality is amazing, it was made-to-order, and arrived at my plumbing supply in just a week's time. would definitely buy from them again.

 

[Paddy]

water doesn't freeze 4' down in to many places, but when the device is closed/off, water flows into the drain hole to what ever water level happens to be at that moment. Kind of like dipping a straw into a cut of water.

The analogy was regardless how deep you dig a hole or how much gravel you use, water level will just fill it under certain times of the year. Some locations just don't want to drain.

 

[Xfaxman]

This Baker Monitor hydrant was installed in 2005. It has a spool valve with o-rings instead of a faucet washer and by loosening a set screw, you can turn the top to point where you want it.

Baker Water Systems - Monitor® Magnum Yard Hydrant

 

[turnkey4099]

I have 3 frost free faucets at my house that I got at Lowes, don't know the name but they have been maintenance free. My brother in law has the same kind but he has at least 5 of them and I have had to dig up and rework the seals on one of them for him in 7 years of service. At least parts are available to fix any leaks.

You shouldn't have to dig them up, they are replaceable by taking the top part with handle off...if you can break that top free..

Harry K