Freeze / Frost Proof Yard Hydrants

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SandburRanch

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Hydrant head 9-23-08.jpg If any members have these may I suggest now ( at least in the northern hemisphere ) is a good time to determine if the drain is functioning as designed rather than in the dead of winter at possibly -20°F * -29 C or colder.

There is a simple no cost method of determining this. After shutting off the hydrant, with no hose connected, simply place the palm of your hand over the outlet. If the hydrant is draining a vacuum will be felt on your hand and it will be audible when removed. Those with mandatoryView attachment 21250 vacuum breakers may be questionable. If a measure of drain speed is desired, a cup can be filled and by keeping hydrant snout in the cup of water the water will be siphoned from the cup.
 
Thanks, those seep holes are not real big and can get plugged if not in gravel or something.
 
Out of curiosity, do you have an approved backflow preventer on the feed line to that self draining dry barrel yard hydrant?
(Not allowed without one in some locations.)
 
Diehard, we never put backflows on the incoming line to the hydrant, but I see what you are saying. Not sure anymore
if the new ones could have a backflow built in the unit.
 
I've been retired awhile now so I am not up to date on the latest and greatest. I see they have what is referred to as "Non-Freeze Sanitary Post/Yard Hydrants" that are designed to prevent a potential cross connection. Such as this one by JR Smith.
https://www.jrsmith.com/product.aspx?productid=334&title=non-freeze sanitary post%2fyard hydrants


Here's a blurb from some water district in CA.

"Q: What is a yard hydrant or frost-free hose bibb and why is it a potential cross-connection? Are there “approved” yard hydrants?
A yard hydrant and a frost-free/freeze proof hose bibb are the same thing. A yard hydrant is an outdoor water supply outlet that has a valve and outlet above ground and a drain opening below the frost level. When the valve is opened, water flows.
When the valve is closed, the water supply to the hydrant is shut off below the frost level and a drain hole is opened that allows the water in the yard hydrant pipe to drain into a gravel bed. This drains the yard hydrant and its riser so that the hydrant will not freeze.
A yard hydrant can be a potential cross-connection through the drain hole; when a backsiphonage condition occurs, contaminants (such as chemicals, dirt, bacteria, fertilizer, etc.) can potentially enter your internal plumbing and the public drinking water system through the drain hole.
The District requires that yard hydrants have an RP assembly installed upstream of them, or that they are replaced with a sanitary yard hydrant. A sanitary yard hydrant still has a drain hole, but the water drains into a sealed tank. When the hydrant is turned on again, the water in the tank is expelled; there is no cross contamination
http://www.jrsmith.com/product.aspx?ProductId=334&title=Non-Freeze+Sanitary+Post%2FYard+Hydrants
with the yard hydrant and the soil. For approved sanitary yard hydrants, see http://www.freezeflow.com/ ,https://www.plumbingsupply.com/sanitaryyardhydrants.html or contact the District.
 
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In the 60 + years I've been associated with these hydrants I've never used gravel for drainage and have never seen a need for it.
 
Very understandable that you wouldn't see a need for it, if you haven't had a problem in your 60+ yrs experience.
It may have something to do with the materials in your area vs some other areas.
 

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