I am dreaming of a quick connect hose coupling that will function in freezing weather. Snapping the hose onto the frost-free hydrant, without having to carefully thread the hose in place each time, would speed things up. Has anyone found a brand that works? Thanks!
I was thinking the same thing, but apparently it’s not a great idea, because it tends to freeze a little, just enough to freeze some water inside the frost-free part, rendering it no longer frost-free. So now I just stand there shivering, and turning the hose end 16 and a half times …
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I use the black rubber/brass ones from Lowes. I have them on 10 different frost free spigots/hoses with zero issues.
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Make sure you get ones without a “flow stopper” that will prevent the hydrant from draining.
I’d also look for one that is a full flow–most have smaller inner diameters and really restrict the flow.
I have these, but only in the summer so I can’t comment on cold weather use. (I don’t use the pasture where I run hoses in the winter.) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00835N902
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Thanks everyone for the good information! Will look for the Lowes’ ones.
I have used the brass ones, and most days they work in subzero temps. I put a bucket over the spigot to make sure the connecter does not get wet.
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I use those things religiously, but I have found that if you leave them on the hose end in freezing temps and there is any moisture around the rubber gasket when it freezes… chances are you will have to replace the gasket (you will also get a lovely faceful of cold water if you happen to have a brass cutoff valve before the quick release, ask me how I know this).
And unfortunately the rubber gasket isn’t the universal so you get to buy a complete new connector.
I also once used them at the spigot end in the washrack and they were a lot easier to pop on and off, but I noticed the hose did not drain with the connector end attached. It was fine most days down here in GA, most everything thaws by the afternoon, but we hit a few days of deep freeze and I was a bit screwed with a frozen hose.
(but I will say for most of the year I have the male ends on my sprayer, a short length of hose with the end cut off (perfect for filling the vetrolin bucket) and on the horse shampoo spray bottle. The female end attached to a cutoff valve attached to the hose and I can move between attachments fast and easy. I don’t know whether I’m proud of myself for figuring this out or embarrassed that it took this long to figure it out, but I love it)
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I use the solid brass ones – bought them online $$$ (can’t remember where :() – wanted the best ones out there; have had them for years now.
In freezing temps I disconnect hose and drain it after every use, then immediately reconnect – if not, the quick connect freezes solid.
My outdoor hydrants are only a few feet away from heated water tubs so hose is short; easy to drain.
We have had good luck for years with GatorLock connectors I buy from US Plastics. They are heavy plastic with small brass “ears” which rotate to close the connection securely. A set with one for the frost hydrant and one for hose will cost about $10 but they are very durable and they work here (we live not far from Minneapolis/St Paul, MN) through the worst of winter. The opening is quite large and I have never had one freeze and stop the frost hydrant from draining. I do have to sometimes use a small hammer to close the ears but a few taps breaks the ice easily. We tried the light plastic slide ones and the brass ones previous to finding these and the GatorLocks work a great deal better for us. Since we have to fill our stock tank twice daily in winter, we have had a lot of experience with these.
We use the plastic quick connects and they soldiered on through the vortex, although our well froze somewhere so we didn’t have water between when it hit 15 and warmed back up to 40. They still work now.
