leaking hydrant

[crazymike]

I have 3 hydrants in a row that go to different paddocks.

All three are on the same water line and run with the hydro which is in cased in PVC.

This afternoon I used all three hydrants and they worked fine and pressure seemed okay.

Tonight, 4 hours later I went to water off in the barn and the main well was dry. This is normal, however it's been relatively wet lately so the well shouldn't be dry.

I switched over to my cistern, which has an above ground pump in the basement. The pump did not shut off until I shut the water off going to the hydrants.

Something must be leaking outside. It has been -20c for the last few days but all the hydrants worked flawless. So I'm guessing it's not a ruptured pipe. It's been -6 or so today.

Any ideas? The ground is frozen and I can't dig up the hydrants. Could ice cause them to be leaking internally? Like leaking into the ground?

If not, how do I look for the leak? I have a stethoscope... I guess I can listen at each hydrant for water flowing? whichever one is loudest is closest?

I'm hoping that the line just slipped off the end of the hydrant perhaps, maybe frost seperated them?

Any ideas would be great...

Thanks, Mike

 

[DanD78]

I have a similar set up with three hydrants on one line and I used the black plastic line between each with brass king nipples and double clamps. I notice that when I turn on the end hydrant and then open one closer to the source the first open hydrant takes all the pressure. You might be able to open hydrants and use you expirence to tell you if the flow is normal or not and narrow down where the leak might be. Another thing to check is make sure none of the levers have let the control rod slip and not close all the way. If the valve in the bottom is stuck between not quite closed and the drain on the bottom is open it could still flow. You might soon see a spot on the ground start to thaw where the leak could be. Hydrants are not something a guy should bargen shop for. I put in the best ones I could find from a guy that drills wells and have had no problems in over 10 years. (The day's not over yet) The Merrell (sp) brand I put in can have the valve serviced from the top with out digging. Also as you close the lever the main water will shut off before the drain opens so water should not flow out the drain. After you close the lever you should be able to put the palm of your hand on the end of the hydrant and feel a vacuume as the water drains back to the valve. Don't leave a hose hooked to the hydrant in the winter or it will not drain back right and freeze up. I hope your problem is only a rod adjustment and you don't have to dig.

Dan

 

[crazymike]

it appears I came down with a touch of the yellow dog last night.

I swore up and down to my wife that I put the hose back in the house. When I went out this morning, the hydrant was still on with the hose still attached. Turns out I forgot to go back to that hydrant and shut it off

There was nothing I could do but laugh at myself. I have to thaw that hydrant now before I can turn the water back on though.

$130 to have someone come and refill the well is a lot easier than having to dig up the entire farm again though. So it's quite a relief.

These hydrants are good hydrants and fully serviceable. However, if I did this project again I would probably run individual lines to each hydrant and put a manifold in the house.