Rolfsi
New Member
Do I need to winterize a woodford hydrant or is it frost-free? It is a y34 Woodford Hydrant.
Woodford Y34 hydrant
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Garydaplummer
Union plumber/pipefitter-self employed
Provided...
That is provided it extends into a heated space where it actually shuts off. I say this because a customer had one freeze and burst but the seat end of it was still inside the exterior wall, the contractor who originally installed it did not use a long enough model. And don't forget to remove the hose and if you have one on, the gated wye. In the spring I replace numerous burst freezeproof faucets because the hsoe was left on all winter. Then once you turn it on to use it in the spring it starts to leak.
That is provided it extends into a heated space where it actually shuts off. I say this because a customer had one freeze and burst but the seat end of it was still inside the exterior wall, the contractor who originally installed it did not use a long enough model. And don't forget to remove the hose and if you have one on, the gated wye. In the spring I replace numerous burst freezeproof faucets because the hsoe was left on all winter. Then once you turn it on to use it in the spring it starts to leak.
JohnjH2o1
Plumbing Contractor for 49 years
That is provided it extends into a heated space where it actually shuts off. I say this because a customer had one freeze and burst but the seat end of it was still inside the exterior wall, the contractor who originally installed it did not use a long enough model. And don't forget to remove the hose and if you have one on, the gated wye. In the spring I replace numerous burst freezeproof faucets because the hsoe was left on all winter. Then once you turn it on to use it in the spring it starts to leak.
The Y34 is a yard hydrant.
http://www.wcmind.com/Woodford/Yard_Hydrant_Pages/model-y34.htm
John
Gary Swart
In the Trades
This hydrant has a automatic drain at the bottom, but they come in various lengths. If it is long enough so that it is buried below the frost line, then you do not have to drain it. If it is a shorter model then the hydrant will be OK, but the supply pipe can freeze and break. I'm not sure, but I think the same rule about removing hoses would apply to the yard hydrant as applies to the valves that connect inside the house.
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Runs with Bison
Member
In the spring I replace numerous burst freezeproof faucets because the hsoe was left on all winter. Then once you turn it on to use it in the spring it starts to leak.
I remember two decades ago listening in horror as the town utility maintenance superintendent attempted to explain on the news the aftermath of the worst blizzard I can recall. When asked why all these leaks had appeared when we thawed out, he winged it claiming that, "when the weather warms it pushes the cold deeper into the ground, freezing more lines." Oh, brother...
It never occurred to thim that ice is an effective plug, so he came up with some alternative theory that violated the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics.EDIT: I should add for the OP that we had one of these yard hydrants (or very similar, topworks was red, layout looked the same) during that blizzard and it did not freeze. We had everything buried below the frostline. We might have crudely insulation wrapped the hydrant during the coldest portions of winter when we were not using it--I'm not certain but have a vague recollection of that. Probably wouldn't hurt to put some cheap pipe insulation onto the vertical pipe since it will conduct cold down toward the buried frost line.
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Garydaplummer
Union plumber/pipefitter-self employed
OOPS, didn't even look at the model number. I'm in fall in Pennsylvania mode, reminding my customers to disconnect their hoses.
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