Yard Hydrant Freezing

[ARAD]

We have been using this yard hydrant for at least 8 years without any problems. Recently we had our first cold weather with a hard frost. In the early morning, I tried to open the valve and nearly broke the valve rod. Fortunately I didn't brake it, but literally pulled the pivot & set screw off. I waited until later in the day when it was warmer. The hydrant worked fine after taking several pieces off, spraying oil on the valve rod, and re-assembling everthing.

Tried to use it again this morning - feels like the the hydrant is frozen again. So I didn't force it this time. What would have caused this hydrant to start freezing now after years of working perfectly? For now, it isn't that big a deal - just need to wait until its warmer usually by late morning or early afternoon. But, it will be a problem when the weather gets really cold. I was thinking of installing a pipe strip heater to the stand pipe. That should help if there is water freezing above ground. Is there anything else that I can do - short of replacing the hydrant to fix the problem?

 

[DocHeb]

There shouldn't be water in the pipe that freezes as the standing water drains out the bottom of the pipe when you shut it off. I would pull the stem and replace the plunger since it may be leaking and slowly saturating the ground so that the pipe can't drain.

 

[Tororider]

I agree with DocHeb, shouldn't be doing that. We just got one put in this fall, we had them run the water into the barn from the well, and then back out to the hydrant so we can turn the water off in the barn, but as long as it was installed correctly, there shouldn't be water left in the hydrant. Do you have a hose connected? If so it is possible there is water left in the hose that is backing up into the hydrant.

By the way, welcome to TBN, you will find great info and great people on here.

 

[ARAD]

Thanks for the quick response (DocHeb and Tororider). I was surprised that the hydrant is now freezing after 8 years of working great - even when the temperature was in the teens deg.

There is no hose attached. A few years ago we had a short piece of hose attached to make filling the trough easier. We would just leave the open end of the hose in the water in the trough. The suction would actually drain the trough down below the hose. Obviously, we stopped doing that.

DocHeb, I have a very similar set - the well feeds into the barn and then back out to several field hydrants. So, the shutoff valve is inside the barn.

I am hoping not to have to dig up the hydrant. Looks like I will need to remove the entire handle assembly to get at the stem and pull out the plunger. Does the stem/plunger just pull out? I will need to look up the manufacturer and see if they have replacement parts.

Will post updates when available.

 

[SnowRidge]

A slight leak at the stem will cause your problem. Same for a blocked drain or weep hole. Can you try tightening the packing nut a bit?

 

[Kays Supply]

If the ground around your hydrant is clay, it can settle around the weep hole and make it hard to back drain. If you use air or another water source to blow backwards through the spout while the handle is down you can see if it will blow out the weep hole.

 

[ARAD]

A slight leak at the stem will cause your problem. Same for a blocked drain or weep hole. Can you try tightening the packing nut a bit?

I will try tightening the packing nut.

Found the manufacturer's webpage - they also had the same suggestion.

 

[Kays Supply]

We might be talking different terms here. The packing nut is one thing. the adjustment lug is what I think it is called. You back off the four sided bolt on the side of the top of the stem, you raise the handle slightly and retighten it. That will preload the stem so it will seat the tip better.

 

[LarryD]

The suction would actually drain the trough down below the hose. Obviously, we stopped doing that.

We had a friend house sitting once while we were on vacation. She called to say one of the horse troughs must have a hole in it because she filled it the day before and it was empty.

When we got home I put it on the patio and filled it up. After a couple hours there was no sign on any moisture on the concrete... Then it dawned on me, the weep hole on the hydrant is 2+ feet lower than the water trough and put a siphon on the trough.

 

[Dakota Digger]

Replying to an old thread. But any how I am a new member and have had success by 1 making sure as stated thr hydrant is properly adjusted so it fully shuts off. 2 you drain hole is letting the water drain out I have had to use an air compressor a few times to clear this out by blowing air back down. Once the air is flowing burp some water in and keep the air back flushing the water will help clear debris. And finally if you left the hose hooked up and it didn't drain or it siphoned water back down and froze a propane torch might work but if it is really frozen down below ground heat takes forever to go down. I have found that by removing the hydrant head and pouring table salt down will quickly thaw down more efficiently. Follow the salt with a girgle or 2 of rv antifreeze. The salt wil thaw downward with gravity and salt and rv antifreeze is safe for your animals. After clear. Run the hydrant for awhile and follow up with adjusting to make sure the hydrant shuts fully off and back flush with air as mentioned above so it doesn't refreeze

I know I am replying to an old thread but after doing an internet search and not finding much figured I would post what has worked for me. I have used this method on several hydrants I'm my area helping out fellow neighbors so they didn't have to dig or call in for expensive repairs