Experience With Woodford Outdoor Hydrants

ctbuilder

I need to install a couple of remote outdoor faucets (50 - 100 feet from the house) and I came accross Woodford, who seem to make a pretty good product. Has any readers worked with this product and any feedback on the process you can pass along and what to watch out for?

Our frost line is 42 inches so I fiqure on getting the 4 foot deep model.

1) Can I just run pex underground - which pex do you like??
2) Is there a special fitting to merge pex to the Woodford hydrants
3) Should one put gravel around the base

thanks in advance

mdshunk

I'm just an electrician, but I can say that I thought Woodford might be the only one's making outdoor yard hydrants. They're the only one's I've ever seen.

KillerToiletSpider

1)If PEX is legal in your area, I see no reason why not.
2)Woodford hydrants have an IPS end, usually three quarter inch.
3)Two foot of 3/4" stone followed by compacted soil is what I have used in the past.



Zurn, Josam, Wade, and Jay R. Smith all make yard hydrants as well, they are more expensive, and therefore less common.

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A flush is better than a full house.

POOLMANinCT

connecticut here also....
pex just showed up @ l#wes & hd last week....
what is the application for the H20?????

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Herk

Rather than PEX, I'd run 200 PSI polyethylene pipe underground. But that's just me. Remember, when buying a deep bury hydrant like this, that you go by the bury depth - don't measure the length of the hydrant - it should be several feet above the ground when finished. Hope I'm not overstating the obvious. But PEX can be used underground.

I have a Woodford out in my yard that's been there without repairs for at least 20 years and probably more. I don't remember for sure when I put it in. But repair parts are available - you can pull the core and replace the rubber stopper at the bottom easily. I haven't had to replace many of them, but I do carry at least one on the truck.

McElroy Tech

If you have frostline concerns, HDPE (polyethylene) may be a good choice. It is pretty tough stuff an resists splitting due to freezing. It also doesn't have joints that can come apart with expansion due to freezing. It is pretty forgiving on the installation. You can get your line and butt fuse a couple of transition fittings in. If you are a little flexible on where the final location of the hydrant will be, you can prefab the whole thing. If not, a MiniMc (fusion tool) isn't that expensive to rent. I put one of these in for a horse ranch a couple of years ago. No problems as of yet.

Whatever the size (a few differences depending on resin), DR 11 pipe will give you a working pressure of 160 PSI. The pipe distributor will be able to help with pipe selection for your application.