Looking for a best frost free hydrant to help you meet your water flow and weather conditions? Well there are so many types of frost free hydrant that it is sometimes confusing to choose the one that fits your needs of best yard hydrant(water flow, high quality material, water for irrigation, self draining, functional for long time). Hence, we did our own little research and testing to help users like you to find the best quality frost free hydrant of high quality materials for long time. The factors needed includes budget friendly and easy to install valve body, frost proof yard hydrant, free yard hydrant, quarter turn, flow rate, hydrant length, water flow finder and lock, plumbing hardware, cast iron, cast iron head, woodford yard, inch npt female, heavy duty cast iron, install a yard hydrant, torch electric heat tape, hose connector, shut off valve, drain hole, lever locktension etc for best yard hydrant to self draining frost free water supply. For us budget friendly water supply y34 4 best yard hydrant, Woodford Y34-4 Y34-4 Yard Hydrant Freezeless performed best among all the hydrants we tested.
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Top 7 Yard Hydrant
1. Woodford Y34-4 4 ft – Best Freezeless Option
This is a Woodford Y34 4 best Yard quality frost free yard hydrant head with depth of four feet last for a long. Its overall length is 75.5 inches with pipe connection of ¾ inches thick. This is an immediate flowing yard best frost free hydrant of 75.5 inches budget friendly high quality materials. Even in water supply conditions, you will get an immediate flowing by best frost free hydrant. It has an adjustable linkage. Adjustable linkage is a rod guide that offers various benefits such as eliminating side pull and wear reduction. Also, this frost free yard hydrant comes with a variable-flow plunger and cushion type large seal. Install the best yard hydrant is good. All these parts are having a durable life, easy to install and help to shut-off connection even when other particles are present in the water flow. This is qualifying purchases and long lasting for feet below the frost flow of water.
The top portion will not rotate after you have installed the hydrant. You need to be careful with cast iron, adjustment linkage and tightening of nuts. If you encounter any leakages then probably the nuts are loose. Prefer checking the cast iron, tightening of nuts and linkages. Well, the Woodford brand is recognized for many years and shown an acceptable performance. The automatic draining function after shut off will help in forming frost proof yard hydrant for long lasting plumbing hardware and flow of water.
- Automatic draining after shut off.
- Flow finder.
- Lock to prevent accidental opening.
- Immediate flowing in sub-zero conditions.
- Adjustment linkage.
- The paint may get exposed to air with time.
Bottom Line
During testing we subjected the Woodford yard hydrant to low conditions, it worked perfectly. There was no freezing. That is why we believe it is a great option when you are looking for something sub zero temperatures. It is also the best rated frost proof yard hydrant.
2. Simmons 802SB 2′ LD – Most Durable Option
Simmons presents a bury yard hydrant with a buried depth of 2-feet. There is a head material of cast iron and galvanized stainless steel extension rod. It is also having a cushion type large seal and one-piece variable flow plunger. There is a tamper-proof lock which gets locked even in a closed position either bolting through a hole in the link or inserting padlock. Plus, you will get an NPT female inlet and a male hose thread outlet of ¾”. The overall length of this hydrant is 24 inches along with a silicon bronze bypass valve and aluminum hose adaptor.
Its plunger is made without the use of o rings. So, if not used properly, it can damage easily within less time of usage. If desired, you can replace the hose fitting with a brass one. This is to make it durable and rust-free. We recommend you to tighten or adjust the plunger pressure in case you also encounter a water leakage problem. Other than these, all the functions perform well as mentioned. The price is equivalent to the features offered.
- Stainless-steel extension rod.
- Tamper-proof lock.
- Automatic shut off.
- Automatic drain off after closing.
- Cast iron head material.
- Pistol type handle.
- Hosepipe may expose to rust.
- No use of rings in the plunger.
Bottom Line
Since hydrants are exposed to different weather conditions, they are prone to rust and many other things that can affect their durability. Among all the hydrants, this is one of the most durable hydrants.
3. Parts2O FPH2 2-Feet Frost-Free – Best For Budget Conscious User
This is Parts2O frost-free yard best frost free hydrant of 2-feet. This six feet hydrant is having a buried length(feet below the frost) of four feet and handle length of two feet. This handle is made from cast iron material and can be easily locked. There is a leak-proof seal. Its plunger, rod, and linkage are easily modifiable and can be replaced easily. The standpipe is effectively resistant to corrosion. Basically, the package consists of all the things that you will need to replace the old one.
Except for the corrosion-resistant standpipe, all its components are cheaply built. Hence, the durability of this product is a little issue. The cheap components can have an impact on the functioning of the hydrant. Like the rod, linkage, and plunger are easily replaceable, you can replace them with good ones if you desire after use for a long time. Actually, its replaceable feature will put you to an advantage. However, this yard hydrant is pocket-friendly as compared to other hydrants.
- Corrosion-resistant standpipe.
- Leak proof seal.
- Easily replaceable rod, plunger, and linkage.
- Easy lockable handle.
- Pocket-friendly.
- Cheap components except for standpipe.
Bottom Line
With time some parts may degrade, but if you buy Parts2O FPH2 you have a unit that has parts that are replaceable. Also, it is one of the budget-friendly options and a good ranch hydrant.
4. Water Source YH-2 2′ – Best For 2ft Installation
This is yard hydrant by Water Source with 24” bury depth and overall length of 27”. There is also a ¾” FPT bottom connection. It is provided with a nylon valve seat that can be easily replaced and is leak proof. You are also going to get the plunger, rod, linkage, and seat. You can easily replace them without digging. There is a brass connection with the rod that provides leak-proof, smooth, rust-free and easy operation. As per the information, this hydrant is certified by IAPMO R&T Labs. Also, it is having a lead content less than 0.25% and passes Federal and State low leads standards.
To keep the system bacteria-free, you can connect brass fitting on one side and compression on the other with ¼” poly tube. It will make faster drain out and helps to improve the feature of the system. Overall, this is a Chinese made product with good features. There are no malfunctioning observed while testing. Regards to the pocket also, it is budget-friendly.
- FPT bottom connection.
- Replaceable plunger, rod, linkage, and seat.
- Brass connection with the rod.
- Simple installation.
- May require to use additional things to secure the system.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for something that can be used in your backyard for gardens or barns, then WATER SOURCE YH-2 2′ Yard Hydrant has proven to be most effective for home users.
5. Simmons Manufacturing 4802LF- Best For Lawns
This Yard Hydrant is a lead-free premium product with the frost proof feature and is manufactured by the Simmons Manufacturing. Its model number is 4802LF. The dimension of the product measures to 10 x 2.5 x 55 inches. The size of the product is 2’and it consists of a handle that enables for its easy access and convenience to carry. It also consists of ¾ inch NPT Female Inlet. This product is very useful and important as plumbing hardware that can be used to access water with the pull of a handle to irrigate the lawns and gardens, to provide the water for livestock, washing equipment, etc.
This yard hydrant has a casted iron head with the coating and finishing by the blue polyester powder. The product is made up of cast iron. The total pipe of the hydrant is of length 4 feet and the connection of the yard hydrant hose is 2 feet above the ground. The valve is present at 2 feet deep in the ground and the adjustable shutoff valve is absent in this product. The user can try adjusting by playing a bit with the lever and can get the little flow of control from it.
- It is complete frost free.
- It has NPT female inlet.
- It has handle to carry it conveniently.
- It is made of cast iron and blue polyester powder coating.
- The adjustable shutoff valve is missing.
Bottom Line
If you want a hydrant that doesn’t take time for installation and can be carried around with ease, Simmons Manufacturing 4802LF is one of the best options. Due to its portability we believe it is the best for fire.
6. Everbilt Bury Depth Frost Proof – Best For Washing
This yard hydrant is certified as the frost proof product and is manufactured by the Everbilt brand. This product is considered to be one of the best as per the market value. It consists of a rod that is built of brass. Along with this, a hose connector is also present that complements a double O-ring seal for ensuring a positive seal time. The handle of the hydrant has the perfect size for easy handling.
The Everbilt product is made up of cast iron and the head of the hydrator consists of the nifty bucket hook for its easy use. The standpipe of the product is built up of galvanized steel that is of 1” measurement thus making it stronger and capable to stand for long. The product proves to be highly advantageous for the consumers for the available range of its price.
- It is certified frost proof hydrant.
- It uses O-ring seal.
- It is easy to install and use.
- It uses bucket hook for easy use.
- It is made of galvanized steel.
- It is expensive compared to yard hydrants.
Bottom Line
Most of the yard hydrants we tested are made of cast iron, but if you want something with steel, the Everbilt Bury Depth Frost Proof Yard Hydrant is one of the best.
7. Merill MFG B101-039 – Best Lead Free Option
This yard hydrant is a standard and frost proof featured product of the B-7000 series. It is manufactured by the Merill MFG and has the model number of B101-039. The product bears 1” of the connection pipe along with 1” of the galvanized pipe. The total length of the pipe is 39.5 inches and the pipe is buried at the depth of 1-inch below the ground. The product provides one-year round water services to the irrigation and other areas that enable to drain beneath the frost line once it is shut off.
Merill MFG B101-039 is made up of heavy cast iron with its simple designed head along with high flow design. The handle is also made up of heavy cast iron which is simple again and large enough to handle and carry the product conveniently. It consists of the double bypass valve body and one piece of a plunger that enables for the easy plunger seal replacement. Packing gland is not required for the product and the inner diameter of the valve is 1-inch.
- It has very simple design.
- Plunger seal is replaceable.
- It is lead free.
- It uses galvanized pipes for durability.
- No features like auto shutoff.
- Handle is too large.
Bottom Line
If you want to hydrant that can produce water which is suitable for drinking, Merill MFG B101-039 is best option as it is lead free, and provides the water without any contamination for the hydrant itself.
Buyer’s Guide- What To Consider?
If you are also one of them having lots of yard space relying on water, then investing in yard hydrants become more than important. In simple words, yard hydrant is sort of plumbing tool to get access to water on its planted area by turning on the hydrant. This post will guide you on considering different factors before buying yard hydrants.
1. Bury Depth
Look at the bury depth of the yard hydrant is the most important factor. It is the number of feet that the yard hydrant can be buried. Basically it defines the reach of the hydrant. It should have enough bury depth to connect easily with the pipe connection of water source. Depending upon your requirements of depth level of the water source, you should choose suitable bury depth yard hydrant. Because if not you will be wasting your money. Also, you won’t be able to install it. Hence, while buying always check the frost proof yard hydrant bottom assembly to know how it will suit your needs. Everbilt has the highest bury depth. And if you want yard hydrant with shallow depth of 2 ft etc, go for Simmons 802SB 2' LD .
2. Water flow adjustment
There are some yard hydrants in the market that comes with this facility. With water flow adjustment feature, you can easily adjust the water flow as per your needs. This is an useful feature if you want to use hydrant for gardening, or irrigation. You will be able to provide the optimium flow of water as the requirements of plants. This would also help to save the water consumption up to some extent and add a customization option. Well, all of the hydrants are not equipped with this feature. So, it’s a less considerable factor that totally depends upon your personal preference. The best possible hydrant that you can buy if you are looking for customization, is Woodford Y34-4 Y34-4 .
3. Pipe inlet
Pipe inlet assists in drawing the water from its source with a flow. This should be long enough to get a significant amount of water pushed out from the source. A smaller pipe inlet will push less amount of water as compared to large pipe inlet. There is also an advantage of time-saving with the use of large pipe inlet. However, you can choose between them according to your needs. The purpose of using yard hydrant also matters here while choosing the size of pipe inlet. We believe for purpose like gardening, or irrigation you can go with large pipe inlet as it will be able to provide enough water in less time. However, if you are tapping into drinking water source, a smaller inlet is also enough.
4. Automatic drain out
It is mandatory that your yard hydrant be frost resistant. Otherwise, the water will freeze in sub zero temperatures. Modern yard hydrants are specifically built with this feature. A very small drain hole sort of thing is made beneath the yard hydrant where the left out water supply gets drained automatically of yard hydrants. This feature is still prevalent even after turning off the valve. So, you should always look for this frost resistance feature especially if you are considering to use in cold regions.
5. Lock
This is related to the upper part of the valve. We are referring here to auto-locking mechanism to prevent leakage. This feature should be present in every yard hydrant so that it gets automatically locked after closing. It helps reduce wastage of water. To learn more about aspects like this it would be better if you know how does a yard hydrant work. But we advice you to get a hydrant with this features. Especially when you are buying hydrant for gardening or farming, this system would be really useful. It would not only save water but also prevent the access watering of plants.
6. Quality
Quality is very essential consideration while making an investment in yard hydrant. Including the rod, hose or valve, the build quality should be strong enough to last for a long time. You can consider the stainless steel build material as it is rust free. Also, check for the paint quality. Most of the units that we have tested are made of stainless steel. And especially when you are looking to buy freezeless hydrant steel is the best material for yard hydrant. Another point is that it should not get exposed to air or rust over time. So make sure the paint on the hydrant should be of high quality. An anit-rust coating is a good feature to have. Sometimes, yard hydrants come with parts such as heavy duty cast iron that can be replaced with time. It is a good factor to consider as you can replace them when desired or when wear off with time.
FAQs
1. Due to the use of hydrant does the water taste bad?
No, the water won’t taste bad. Infact, the quality of water the hydrant tapes into determines the taste. If the quality of the water supply is good, water will be fine. We would advice to check the quality of water before you use the hydrant for drinking purpose.
2. Does the attachment like sprinkler or hose are included in the package?
It depends on the manufacturer. But while testing we observed that most of the big brands are compatible with almost all the attachments. For instance, Woodford Y34-4 Y34-4 Yard Hydrant Freezeless supports standard hose or sprinklers.
3. Does all the hydrant work in snowy weather?
No, only the freezeless hydrant works in such conditions. We advice you to go through the specifications before you buy a hydrant of snowy weather.
4. Can yard hydrant be used for hot water?
We tried to ask these questions to expert, and they said no. Most of the yard hydrant are made to handle only cold or normal water. For hot water, you will have to dig a little deeper to find the hydrant for it. Because hot water requires yard hydrant to have specific qualities. It must be able to handle hot temperature, hot water minerals, and pressure exerted by the steam.
Final Thought
As the frost free yard hydrants can be used for several purposes, you have to be sure for what purpose do you need the frost free yard hydrant. The big reason being there are several types of best frost free yard hydrant or frost proof hydrant with different hose sizes, torch electric heat tape, flow finder and lock, hydrant length, frost line, quarter turn, riser pipe, lever lock tension and pipe sizes. The yield capacity of hydrant may vary depending on the design. Our list has hydrants for almost all purposes. So choose the one simmons manufacturing yard hydrant or frost free hydrant that suits your water supply.
Woodford Y34-4 4 ft- Editor's Choice
Summary
During testing we subjected the Woodford yard hydrant to sub-zero conditions, it worked perfectly. There was no freezing. That is why we believe it is a great option when you are looking for something freezeless. It is also the best rated frost proof yard hydrant.
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