Woodford Water Hydrant Leaks.

[plowjockey]

I have a Woodford (I thinks it s the y34) outdoor hydrant, that leaks from below ground, only when on.

It probably always leaks when on, but I only notice the leak, when there is a hose, with closed nozzle, (that creates back pressure) attached to the hydrant, frocing water up along the outside of the pipe..

It there any way to rebuild these hydrants from the top, without digging?

[Darren]

You should be able to hold the pipe still with a pipe wrench and use another wrench to unscrew the top assembly. Once that's loose, you can pull the assembly, the operating rod and the seal/s out from the top.

[haypoint]

I think that if you remove the handle part, the nut around the rod unscrews and pulls up. Easier than taking the whole faucet off. Hope it isn't at the external joint, where the pipe conects. Then you'll have to dig it up.

[littlebitfarm]

Are you sure it just isn't draining back? Those outside hydrants are meant to drain back so they are empty and don't freeze in the winter. The drain hole is lower than the hose. So a siphon effect will drain the hose back through the faucet. You just see the extra water puddling up.

Kathie

[arabian knight]

Originally Posted by littlebitfarm

Are you sure it just isn't draining back? Those outside hydrants are meant to drain back so they are empty and don't freeze in the winter. The drain hole is lower than the hose. So a siphon effect will drain the hose back through the faucet. You just see the extra water puddling up.

Kathie

For sure. And it will even drain a stock tank that you just filled,, if you leave the hose in the tank and just shut off the hydrant. Ask me how I know LOL And that would be a lot of water that could be soaking in the ground around the hydrant.

[plowjockey]

Originally Posted by littlebitfarm

Are you sure it just isn't draining back? Those outside hydrants are meant to drain back so they are empty and don't freeze in the winter. The drain hole is lower than the hose. So a siphon effect will drain the hose back through the faucet. You just see the extra water puddling up.

Kathie

Yes, I am sure.

It is leaking while the hydrant is on.

[jwal10]

Here is a diagram....James

http://www.woodfordmfg.com/woodford/..._Y1Catalog.pdf

[haypoint]

Originally Posted by plowjockey

Yes, I am sure.

It is leaking while the hydrant is on.

I'd say they were right, but they missed the part where the nozzle is OFF.