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Gwen Robison
Member
Username: Gwen
Post Number: 110
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Friday, Nov 18, 2005 - 8:48 pm: |   |
Does anyone know of a hose that protects water from freezing? Mine just froze up today and it baffles me that no one has come up with a product to prevent it yet. Thanks! |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 14148
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, Nov 19, 2005 - 8:51 am: | |
The only sure prevention I know of is detaching the hose from the spigot and draining the hose. If you have frost proof spigot just lay the hose out flat so it will drain. When you close the lever it opens a valve that allows the water to drain. This is a nightly ritual here during the winter.
DrO |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose
Post Number: 966
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, Nov 19, 2005 - 10:17 am: | |
We use black hoses which heat up quickly if the sun is out. But, we also drain hoses every night. Even with draining sometimes enough water will stay in the hose that the flow will be blocked.This is where the black hoses help. Also, if it is below freezing at night but warms up during the day, when laid out straight the black hoses will defrost by midmorning. |
S. T. Bruce
Member
Username: Kari
Post Number: 217
Registered: 3-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, Nov 19, 2005 - 6:15 pm: | |
I have to disagree with Dr. O on the "sure prevention". I also have frost free spigots at my barn and house. I have had both freeze up when I left the hose attached during very cold weather (20F and below). They didn't burst but I have had to use a hair dryer to thaw them out. Perhaps we have colder weather or maybe I have more exposure but I've found the only sure way is to disconnect the hose from the spigots. Since my water tanks at the barn are very close to the spigots I have cut short sections of hose that will reach the tanks( ususlly 7' or less)and put the replacement male and female coupling that you can find at most hardware stores on them. That way it is easy to make sure the hose is clear of water for the night. |
Angie
Member
Username: Ajudson1
Post Number: 301
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, Nov 20, 2005 - 8:33 am: | |
We have a frost free faucet also and I still remove the hose after use. I coil it and put it in our heated tack room. Our tack room has a small non vented propane heater that we keep on the pilot setting most of the winter..that keeps the temp about 40*. Before I had that I dragged the hose to the basement after I used it. It always seemed no matter if it got drained or not it was still stiff and a lot of times froze up in one annoying spot, just enough to frustrate a person.
I think the best solution is to move to a warmer climate!!!
At one time the tank was right beside the hydrant and we used a washing machine hose to fill the tank....that was nice, just a few feet to deal with. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 14161
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Sunday, Nov 20, 2005 - 4:41 pm: | |
Let's all be sure we are talking about the same thing as there are 2 items that I know of that might be called frost free spigots or hydrants. There are the type that install into walls with a deep shut off valve that depend on getting the valve behind the insulation of the wall to prevent freezing. These types have no drainage valve and should always have the hose disconnected. Then there are the type that install into the ground that go down several feet and the valve opens under ground and when closed open a valve that drains the standing pipe and allows water to drain out the hose. It is this second one that I describe above.
You should always disconnect the hose from the wall type. To not do so risks rupturing the spigot. Something I have done twice.
Concerning the ground type, I agree with ST, we too have found leaving the hose attached sometimes results in freezing at the head when it is very cold even though the water has drained out the hose. You can only get away with the short cut if it is not too far below freezing or the hydrant protected. Sorry for not being clearer.
Angie if the ground does not have a good slope to drain your hose on you have to run the hose, lifting it to about waist level starting from one end going all the way to the other.
DrO |
Holly Wood
Member
Username: Hwood
Post Number: 851
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, Nov 20, 2005 - 6:44 pm: | |
I used to disconnect mine and walk it out from the house so it would run straight down the hill . . . and then I would blow it out . . . several times. At first, because there is so much water in the hose (even though it has had a chance to drain) it is like trying to blow up one of those skinny balloons . . . really takes lots of "blow power," but if you keep at it, you will see the water explode in spray from the end of the hose . . . and I would blow it out a couple of more times after that to make sure that no water puddled in the low spots. |
Angie
Member
Username: Ajudson1
Post Number: 305
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, Nov 20, 2005 - 7:13 pm: | |
Geez DrO,
do ya think that really would help? I didn't realise I came across as so naive.  |
S. T. Bruce
Member
Username: Kari
Post Number: 218
Registered: 3-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, Nov 20, 2005 - 8:06 pm: | |
Angie, Your solution as to moving to a warmer climate is the "ultimate solution", unfortunately it won't work for me.
Dr.O, I also have had to replace two wall frost free spigots for leaving the hose attached. When replacing them, I finally saw a warning embossed on the cover about leaving the hoses attached. As am attorney I always advised my clients to read the fine print, seems I ought to heed my own advise. My barn hydrants are the underground type you described. It was my feeling that the freezing occurred either in the handle or the exposed pipe above the ground. |
Susan M. Herrick
Member
Username: Quatro
Post Number: 208
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, Nov 21, 2005 - 10:18 am: | |
Living in Iowa, we deal with freezing alot. I have bought one of the coiled hoses. they come in 25 or 50 feet. I keep a 5 gallon bucket next to the hydrant. After filling the waters, I unhook hose, drain it and drop it in the bucket. I carry it to my insulated cat room, and it is good to go the next trip. The coiled hose is so much easier to deal with than a big bulky hose. I have had great luck with them.
suz |
Wanda Martinez
Member
Username: Sonoita
Post Number: 19
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, Nov 21, 2005 - 12:10 pm: | |
Living in Colorado I will throw mine over a tree limb or something about like someone said waist level and it will drain. My hose is 100 ft. I do lay it out though. When I lived in Florida we still had to disconnect the hose or we would have a big mess in the stalls. So I don't think moving really works either.
Wanda |
D.
Member
Username: Dyduroc
Post Number: 226
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, Nov 21, 2005 - 5:06 pm: | |
Susan, your solution is brilliant! Filling the water buckets at the hydrant and lugging them back to the stalls gets old long before winter is over (we're in New Hampshire). Thank you for sharing!
D. |
