What next? I picked a warm day because I thought it would increase my likelihood of success. My blow dryer was a trooper though! I didn’t think it would go that long.
If you are talking about the vertical pipe being frozen I would guess it is frozen down slightly below grade where the heat of your blow dryer was not making a dent in the ice plug.
Yeah, I thought if I heated it at the bottom it would warm the pipe up far enough down to melt the ice. I also poured hot water around it after I got the ground softened up, but no luck 
If you can get the top off the frost hydrant, you can try thawing with liquid. We keep Keto-Aid (sold for dairy cattle) in gallon containers for thawing the frost hydrants here. Take the top off the hydrant, pour a gallon down the pipe and wait for about an hour. Just be sure to turn the water off before you try this or you may have a big mess when it works.
Have you tried heat tape all the way up the pipe?
[QUOTE=kcmel;8023702]
Yeah, I thought if I heated it at the bottom it would warm the pipe up far enough down to melt the ice. I also poured hot water around it after I got the ground softened up, but no luck :([/QUOTE]
Can you move the handle or is it frozen? If you can move the handle easily you might be frozen somewhere before the hydrant and will need to check the line leaving your water source. Can you add a heat tape?
we’ve had a lot of luck with some kind of heated cord. Spouse picked it up at lowes or homedepot, its like and insulated cable you plug in and wrap around pipe/ spigot/ whatever and plud it in. It has saved us so far this winter and I havent noticed a big spike in electricity bill. good luck!
Nowadays so many pipes are plastic so I don’t know if this is still used, but I had my water line thawed out a few times by a plumber who used an electric shock. I heard that there are some dangers to it so maybe it is not done now, but it was quick, effective, inexpensive, and commonly done in Alaska a few decades ago.
I am from California, where it doesn’t freeze - so what do I know! But, my first thought was an electric heating pad. I see ShortRound suggested heated coils - the kind of sustained heat that something like that could provide sounds like it should work.
When this happens to me, I have to do what Robin suggested and take the top off the hydrant. I just use a 5 gallon bucket, a funnel, and copper tubing to get HOT water down in there to melt things. ABsolutley, Turn the water off FIRST.
[QUOTE=PeteyPie;8023915]
Nowadays so many pipes are plastic so I don’t know if this is still used, but I had my water line thawed out a few times by a plumber who used an electric shock. I heard that there are some dangers to it so maybe it is not done now, but it was quick, effective, inexpensive, and commonly done in Alaska a few decades ago.[/QUOTE]
Yes, back when pipes were all metal anyone with a welder could do this and it was very common. Now with all the plastic it is hard to get a full circuit.
[QUOTE=Appsolute;8023926]
I am from California, where it doesn’t freeze - so what do I know! But, my first thought was an electric heating pad. I see ShortRound suggested heated coils - the kind of sustained heat that something like that could provide sounds like it should work.[/QUOTE]
I tried a heating pad too! I think I am going to go out and buy some heat tape, unless I can get the head off. Thanks!
Thawing via electric shock/welding machine is actually pretty dangerous, but it sure worked. I think it’s not done anymore both because of the plastic piping, but also the risk.
A torch will put out a lot more heat than a hair dryer, just don’t get the gaskets at the handle too hot. Heat tape and wrapping it with some sort of insulation is the best bet. We heat taped all of ours last year and wrapped them with the foil/bubble wrap type insulation. I also made hoods for all of them out of the same stuff.
Once the hydrant is frozen, it can take a lot to get it thawed, especially if it is frozen below grade. Also make sure they are draining properly, or they will be very susceptible to freezing.
We got a propane heater/blower. I think we got the smallest one at TSC. You can direct the air and it gets pretty darn warm. We’ve been able to thaw hydrants in less than 15 min.
[QUOTE=cyriz’s mom;8024160]
We got a propane heater/blower. I think we got the smallest one at TSC. You can direct the air and it gets pretty darn warm. We’ve been able to thaw hydrants in less than 15 min.[/QUOTE]
Excellent idea, probably safer than a torch for most.
[QUOTE=airhorse;8024154]
A torch will put out a lot more heat than a hair dryer, just don’t get the gaskets at the handle too hot. Heat tape and wrapping it with some sort of insulation is the best bet. We heat taped all of ours last year and wrapped them with the foil/bubble wrap type insulation. I also made hoods for all of them out of the same stuff.
Once the hydrant is frozen, it can take a lot to get it thawed, especially if it is frozen below grade. Also make sure they are draining properly, or they will be very susceptible to freezing.[/QUOTE]
That’s a good idea!
Our tall outdoor one froze well under the ground last winter (it was truly brutal) and it took more than a week of 50+ temps to get it to thaw, it takes a loooong time when it goes down that deep.
What about a heat gun? We have one at work I can grab.
Heat gun is better than hair dryer, but still might not be enough.
The Keto-aid trick works a charm. But be ready, because when it thaws, it really lets loose.
