Frost-Free Hydrant Quality

cfabe · #1 04/12/09, 08:04 PM

One of our projects for this summer is to install a water line to the barn and install about 4 hydrants around the property. I've seen some made in china hydrants at Tractor Supply and home stores for under $50. How is the quality on these? Has anyone had one for a while and how has it held up? Are repair parts available? Any better brands than others?

We currently have a Woodford Iowa hydrant at the well which appears to be well made. It needs a repair kit and has some damaged threads on the hose connection. I looked up the info about it and this is a made in USA hydrant, parts are readily available but this one needs a new main casting at about $90 and a repair kit for a leak around the stem for about $20. A whole new one is about $160.

I think I should keep only one type of hydrant on the property so I can keep one set of repair parts on hand. Should I pony up and get new Woodfords or replace the current Woodford with one of the cheaper ones?

plowjockey · #2 04/12/09, 08:20 PM

Woodfords are supposed to be the best and maybe the only ones American made.

I would just replace it.

How did it get so damaged?

cfabe · #3 04/12/09, 08:59 PM

I'm not sure how it was damaged, we just bought the place last year and it was like that.

I'm looking at a price difference of about $500 to go with all Woodford hydrants over the cheaper ones.

plowjockey · #4 04/12/09, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfabe

I'm not sure how it was damaged, we just bought the place last year and it was like that.

I'm looking at a price difference of about $500 to go with all Woodford hydrants over the cheaper ones.

Good point.

I replace my ancient one with a Woodford, but i got it at my plumber friend's cost, $85.

I have not used one from TSC, but I see plenty of them around and they don't appear to be leaking.

poppy · #5 04/12/09, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plowjockey

Good point.

I replace my ancient one with a Woodford, but i got it at my plumber friend's cost, $85.

I have not used one from TSC, but I see plenty of them around and they don't appear to be leaking.

We have 2 on our place. Both came from TSC and neither one lasted 5 years. My son put him one in from there too that lasted 3 years. The ones from Rural King have done no better. Last one I bought from a plumbing shop was supposed to be better quality and cost about $80.00. I has been in 18 months and is leaking already. I hadn't heard of Woodford, but I will look them up. The danged things are too much work to dig up and change so often. I would rather pay more for a good one. Of course that's what I thought I was doing last time.

I think the quality is gone. I have farmer friends who have had them for over 30 years with no problems.

Ed Norman · #6 04/12/09, 10:39 PM

We got one at the local lumberyard. I believe it was US made. I had to replace the valve seals after about 4 years. I am looking to add about 3 more soon so let us know whatever you buy if it looks like quality.

If you go Chinese, buy several sets of repair parts at the same time, in case they change the specs for the next production run

Windy in Kansas · #7 04/13/09, 06:29 AM

The Monitor Company was established in 1873 making water products such as Monitor windmills. Monitor and Baker became synomynous for water product goods. Their outdoor hydrant is showing a different design than that of 40 years ago but it is still a U.S. made product to the best of my knowledge.

http://www.bakermonitor.com/index.html

Beeman · #8 04/13/09, 08:03 AM

http://www.simmonsmfg.com/online_cat...hydrants1.html

I have Simmons which is what is sold local and possibly at Lowes. Seem to hold up well and parts are available.

glenn amolenaar · #9 04/13/09, 09:04 AM

Why buy the made in CHINA the metal is poor and like other made in CHINA items where and who stocks replacement parts. BUY AMERICAN and help save American jobs. When do the American people wake up and learn there is no bargain from China.

Glenn

Jennifer L. · #10 04/13/09, 09:12 AM

Check online before you buy and you might come up with something cheaper. Here's the Froogle listings for Woodford hydrant: http://tinyurl.com/ccsqad

Jennifer

wwubben · #11 04/13/09, 09:13 AM

I bought three of them from tsc about 25 years ago and have had no trouble with constant use with them.I put plenty of pea rock around the bottom of the hydrants when I installed them so they could drain back without eventually plugging.

agmantoo · #12 04/13/09, 09:33 AM

I did quite a bit of research on yard hydrants and this was the brand of choice for me. It is USA made.
http://www.merrillmfg.com/product/01.../features.html
Part C in the drawing is a critical part and this is a major part that separates the cheap units from the better quality ones.

cfabe · #13 04/13/09, 08:49 PM

agmantoo, I agree that the Merrill hydrants look pretty good and the price is reasonable at around $70. I think I am going to go with those ones unless anyone else has a suggestion.

Lazy J · #14 04/13/09, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agmantoo

I did quite a bit of research on yard hydrants and this was the brand of choice for me. It is USA made.
http://www.merrillmfg.com/product/01.../features.html
Part C in the drawing is a critical part and this is a major part that separates the cheap units from the better quality ones.

We installed four Merrill hydrants on our farm this year. We have not had any issues and like the way they work.

Pay for the quality, you won't regret it. We went the cheap route in the past and had broke hydrants that we had to dig up.

Jim

Up North Louie · #15 04/14/09, 04:57 AM

The Chinese hydrants are unmitigated garbage. Only fit for scrap. My sister put one in, and it went south before it was ever used. I have to dig it out and replace it when the frost goes out. Since she bought it without consulting anybody, I should let her do it herself, but...

Don

slyacres3918 · #16 04/14/09, 05:53 AM

Glad to see the Merrill brand brought up. I have four hydrants that were in place when we moved here 10 years ago. One was a 'Stockman', and it failed after 4 years(was not used much), the other three are 'Merrill' and have performed flawlessly with daily use for the 10 years. I would be looking for a Merrill if replacement was needed.

Pouncer · #17 04/14/09, 08:41 AM

I don't know about brands, but don't buy one that has any plastic parts. Ours have to be at least 14 foot long to get below frost depth, and it needs to be well insulated if you drive over any part of the line. Because our soils contain some clay at that ten foot level, we put an entire truck load of rock below, even sitting the drain hole in a milk crate, just in case.

This has worked just fine up here for a couple of years, after our first one quit. We thought it was frozen but it had siezed due to design-one pipe sliding inside the other. The one we have now is a simple mechanism using all thread. We have temps to over -30, and it gets used a few times a week in the winter, and at least every day in the summer for the garden.

Jennifer L. · #18 04/14/09, 03:46 PM

http://www.campbellmfg.com/catalog/j01.htm

These are the ones I have by my barn. They've been in for five years or so with a lot of use and have done well for the most part. I kept forgetting to look at the name on them until this afternoon.

Jennifer

wwubben · #19 04/14/09, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwubben

I bought three of them from tsc about 25 years ago and have had no trouble with constant use with them.I put plenty of pea rock around the bottom of the hydrants when I installed them so they could drain back without eventually plugging.

I checked when I did chores tonight and mine are woodfords.

RosewoodfarmVA · #20 04/14/09, 09:11 PM

Just a note since I see no one else has mentioned it...

If you use the black plastic pipe, make sure the fittings and elbows are all metal. They sell threaded plastic fittings that can be used with the pipe, but over time these fittings will crack, and have to be replaced. Save yourself the trouble, pay the 4x price and get the all metal fittings! Also it helps to drive a metal T post beside the hydrant, before you set the hydrant, pounding the post to the height where the top of post is just under the handle assembly. After installing the hydrant, run wire ties around both the post and the pipe, so that any sway or pull by hoses, rubbing cows etc will be absorbed by the post and not the hydrant and fittings at the bottom. As said before always put gravel at the bottom so hydrant can drain.