Hydrant problem 😫

[2DogsFarm]

In July the frostfree in my barn gave up the ghost.
It had at least a 10yr run, replacing the original.
Plumber installed a new head, replaced the rod & said everything else was okay.
He left me the ,8’ length of galvanized pipe that came with the new head.
Monday evening the pressure was low, after being fine morning & afternoon.
Then nothing, no water at all
Plumber was out again yesterday & determined the only problem was the setscrew. Tightened that - using my Allen wrench - & back to normal.

This morning, again, low pressure
I tightened the setscrew & that fixed it.

My question:
Is this just going to be an ongoing issue?
Plumber suggested most hydrants aren’t in use as often as mine.
Really? 3-4X daily, for maybe 20min total?
I’m fine tightening the screw as needed - even left my set of Allens on the windowsill near the hydrant.
OR:
Is this a symptom if something more dire (& $$$)
Going into Winter, watering horses is not optional!

[EssexFells]

I think plumber did a crappy job, knows that he’s looking down the barrel of a bunch of callbacks this winter, so he’s blaming you for just using it too much. Which is total BS.

Call this guy out every single time there’s low pressure. Or propose that he re-do the job right this time.
You can offer to pay for any new materials but his labor should be comped.
Ultimately, though, if he did a crappy job the first time, he’s not going to do a better job the 2nd time, under duress. So I would strongly consider asking for a refund of his labor costs, and just get a new plumber to re-do the whole thing. Ground’s not frozen solid yet, you should still have some time (but not much).

[2DogsFarm]

I’m gonna argue Not True.
The guy who put in the 2nd hydrant 10yrs ago had his own company at that time.
He had to dig down - in February - to repair a leak in the hose that runs to the hydrant from the house.
When I called in July, he recognized the job, was now working for the place I called & went out of his way to save me money.
Including not charging for the time he spent chasing down another hydrant head of the same brand (Woodford) so just the head (& rod) could be replaced.

Company sent another guy yesterday, who told me about the “overuse”. And showed me how to tighten the setscrew.

Unless you can pinpoint a problem you think 2nd guy is covering up, I’m going with his advice.
Though certainly not curtailing my use of the hydrant

[EssexFells]

Sorry, but no, I can’t pinpoint the problem from here. Other than the giant red-flag-waving problem of having to keep tightening something that shouldn’t need constant tightening, and being told that you’re overusing something that is 100% expected to withstand daily use, and the window for getting this fixed before everything freezes is rapidly closing. But hey, I’m glad the plumber sounds like a nice guy, that will be a source of huge comfort as you haul water this winter.

I’m just giving you some crap here. But really, that he’s a nice guy doesn’t mean there’s not a problem with the work or the part(s) used. What you’re experiencing is not normal and I absolutely would be uncomfortable heading in to winter with that hydrant’s status quo.

[NaturallyHappy]

How do you feel about a second opinion? I am empathetic w everything you’ve said. If you are on a well, is there any chance your pump is failing? We had this happen last summer, and that was the symptom. My plumber, who I really love and appreciate, offered to come out but thought it could be the pump. It was.

[candyappy]

@2DogsFarm

My question:
Is this just going to be an ongoing issue?
Plumber suggested most hydrants aren’t in use as often as mine.

Sounds like a flimsy excuse to not fix the issue ( which he should)?

We have multiple hydrants and they get used everyday multiple times and don’t do what yours is doing.

[clanter]

our hydrants are coming on to being 25 years old with out issue. They are Woodford also.

This “set screw” is it the one below the handle to is used to adjust the rod?

You may want to remove that set screw and rough up its point or replace the set screw with a new one (use a Knurled Cup Screw, the knurling is designed to bite in the surface that the screw is butting up with, providing even stronger grip through a ratcheting action…They are particularly useful when there is a risk of a standard set screw working loose over time)

[2DogsFarm]

Thanks @clanter I’ll look for the screw you suggested.
Yes, set screw controls the handle/rod.

For those suggesting plumber is playing CYA, Plumber #1 did a good job first on his own, next for the new employer.
Plumber #2 might be suspect - mainly for that “using too often” idea.

@NaturallyHappy Water pressure in the house - which also supplies the hydrant in the barn - is fine.
Did your pump do both as well?
Well pump is good.

[NaturallyHappy]

Yes, the well supplies the entire farm. The pressure in my house went down (last on the water line) but the pressure in one barn was fine, but the other was low. Scared me enough to call the plumber immediately, who suggested the well guy. The pump was just beginning to fail. And oddly enough, we had used a lot of water to fill outdoor tanks, etc. My plumber did say we may have used too much water all at once. It didn’t make sense to me…hence the call to well guy.

[LCDR]

Do you think that using a bit of thread locker, like Loctite blue or even Loctite red on the screw might be a quick fix?

Well was mentioned. Do other water taps show the same pressure loss? Well pressure loss with return to normal can occur when sediment intermittently blocks the inlet to the pressure switch. But this sounds way more like a single hydrant event.

[2DogsFarm]

Lucky for me, the Well Guy is just down the road.
Pressure in the house is not affected & hydrant was fine last night & this morning.

@LCDR I’m calling the plumber this morning g to ask why the screw loosened right after the “repair”.
I’ll also ask about locktite.

[BUSY]

I hope you have the plumber back to check this issue - that is his job - not yours !
Needs to be rechecked with winter approaching IMHO
“overuse” is BS - and if he sputters that again - back his a$$ up; politely telling him that’s Garbage !

[2DogsFarm]

This is not a single self-owned business.
It’s a local company with a fleet.
What I can do (& did on my first call) is request the guy who was here in July
He was booked for Tuesday, but as this is not emergency, I can wait until he’s free.

[BUSY]

Any professional hired by the local company should be able to re- evaluate this situation IMHO
A new set of eyes may help solve this/ ensure the future performance of the hydrant.
This should be a simple/routine plumbing repair - that lasts more than a day or two !
I would not wait for any reason - it needs to be resolved to YOUR satisfaction - and No you should not be satisfied yet - no until it’s been professionally checked out again IMHO
But do what you think best - good luck. My last words on this.

[moonlitoaksranch]

Wow, this our first year with one frost free doing all the work. I fill 8-10 bucketfuls a day. I would hope that isn’t excessive use. You use yours for 20 mins? That’s probably about the same. The only issue I notice is a little dribble down the outside of the pipe. I hope that isn’t a sign of an issue. It’s going to get a lot colder.

I hope you can get this guy to do his job, OP. If he doesn’t understand how important water is for animals, you can offer to send him the vet bills if his work fails and you have no water for horses.

[2DogsFarm]

I’m going to suggest you address the dribble.
Before freezing temps make it a bigger problem - water could freeze where the leak is & take your hydrant out of commission.

I’m not buying the “overuse” explanation. This is the 3rd hydrant head in that location in almost 19yrs & all got the same use.

Off to call the plumber…

[Equibrit]

Try a drop of this on the setscrew;

https://www.harborfreight.com/02-oz-removable-threadlock-96059.html

These are a good option. https://www.aquorwatersystems.com/products/ground-hydrant

[clanter]

I looked at three of our four Woodford hydrants all have a square head bolt rather than Allen Head setscrew

Looking at Woodford’s web page for replacement parts its shows a square head bolt setscrew

https://www.woodfordmfg.com/woodford/Yard_Hydrant_Pages/Model-y34.html

[paintedpony]

As Equibrit suggested: Locktight. Oops, spelling: Loktite

[2DogsFarm]

This is the model I have:

@Equibrit Before I use anything on the setscrew - especially anything that prevents any motion - Ill check with Good Guy plumber.

I called the company this morning, asked for a scheduled visit from him, waiting for c/b.
The person I talked to agreed “overuse” should not cause a problem.