Yard hydrant replacement can be a difficult task no matter the season. Whether you are digging the hydrant up by hand, or using heavy equipment and trying to avoid hitting marked utility lines. In this article, we will talk about some reasons why you might need to replace your yard hydrant and a solution for all your future yard hydrant troubles.
Reasons for Replacement
There could be many different reasons why you need to replace your yard hydrant. One of the most common reasons would be a leak. A leak comes from the hydrant not being able to fully close its plunger. The plunger can be found at the very bottom of the hydrant. When the handle on the hydrant head is raised, the plunger is also raised, allowing water to start filling up the standpipe of the hydrant. Eventually, this water makes its way out of the hydrant head. When the handle on the hydrant is closed, the plunger seals off the incoming water.
Leaks happen when the plunger can’t fully seal off the incoming water. This can happen from small objects obstructing the plunger, such as small pebbles in the waterline. A worn-out or older plunger can also cause leaks. An older plunger can struggle to fully seal off the water, allowing the standpipe to slowly fill with water, eventually leading to a leak.
Freezes and Breaks
Another very common reason for replacement would be the hydrant freezing and breaking. Frozen yard hydrants stem from two main causes. The first is a leaking hydrant during the winter time. Standing water above the frost line can lead to different parts of the hydrant freezing and breaking or bursting.
Another main cause of a frozen hydrant would be leaving a garden hose attached to the hydrant after use during freezing temperatures. After each use of a hydrant, the drain back system in the hydrant pulls the remaining water in the standpipe back below the frost line. When a garden hose is attached, it adds extra weight and distance to pull. The water’s weight in garden hose makes it harder for the drain back to pull the extra water and distance down the hydrant. This leads to standing water sitting above the frost line, which can cause freezes and bursts within the yard hydrant.
Corrosion
Underground corrosion of the hydrant’s standpipe can also be a reason for needing a new hydrant. Corrosion occurs when the hydrant’s standpipe comes into contact with the surrounding dirt and mixes with rain or salt. Early signs of corrosion would be a slight drop in pressure when the yard hydrant is turned on. If corrosion eats through your standpipe like the picture below, you will need to dig up and replace your entire yard hydrant.
Solution for Easy Replacement
Whether you need to replace your hydrant because its old, leaking, or broken, there is one kit that can make every yard hydrant replacement easier in the future. It’s a Hydrant Assist Kit, or HAK for short. A Hydrant Assist Kit (HAK) is a frost-free water hydrant encasement system, which, once installed, allows a hydrant to be repaired or replaced from the surface—no need for digging or excavating. The HAK works with any waterline type or size, and at any depth.
Have a leaking or broken hydrant that was installed with a HAK? Simply unscrew your hydrant directly from the surface and install the new yard hydrant within seconds. No digging, no mess. A HAK saves time, money, and effort, allowing for easy maintenance and repairs of any yard hydrant.
Want to learn more about how a Hydrant Assist Kit can help you with your future hydrant troubles? Check out our All About the HAK page!
