Help? Hopefully someone here can give some good advice on this? We have acreage in Oregon in the coast-range where it rarely ever gets cold enough to freeze regular faucets (and even if it does – not more than a day or so).
We have a lot of outdoor livestock and a greenhouse, and my wife does a lot of watering, but the turn-style faucets are hard for her to open (especially if she is coming after her ogre-handed husband shut them off last) and she gets super-frustrated every time.
I already replaced all of the above ground ones with brand new (lubricated even) twist-style ones, and she still struggles even if I didn't hulk-shut them.
I was doing research to look into whether we can get any kind of lift-style hydrant – like the open pictured above – but we DO NOT need the whole deep-buried frost-free thing. We just want a dang easy for her to use lift-handled garden faucet/hydrant, but I cannot find anything – anywhere.
I am looking for something where I can buy a bunch and install them on our existing PVC piping – and I really do NOT want to dig every faucet head (around 10 to 15 total) up – and have to do a gravel well and deep hole and spent $80 to $150 per hookup which is what would be needed for frost-free ones.
Any help or advice would be appreciated!
by dankristy
11 Comments
If you’re reusing the existing piping, why not just put a ball valve? Easy enough to open and close
Or a larger sillcock? Just be careful about googling where to find a large sillcock if you’re on a work/school computer.
Having used those a lot, they usually take more strength to open than a twist style spigot.
How about something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/American-Valve-M71QT-Hose-Bibb/dp/B001GLZQ3I/ref=mp_s_a_1_33_maf_1?crid=2U0GRN01JIXBX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sWLHTTYmAQPOP3SB1DKJBEBrVHK7F3arI2YH2LkbF0NYlUks8K0pq9jQpANFDIbOwdO-Z5JUGFN5yAEDlRBXoWGOHJHmn-tEQ043FKzkHpuBdfaO_fke5uf0KXoaTInwSJoghl56mdpaUD3p2pWDs7od0oaESmFV6hRBx4LyNonil3UB0S2jRbTvtVCWFiDHwi9SLSDBhtqxTPAZS8byjg.k85w2Y-dR5J547-_-qJJLKcWRMUaZ_ucU87-NlWU0gA&dib_tag=se&keywords=pull+handle+hose+bib&qid=1745273984&sprefix=pull+handle+hose+bib%2Caps%2C228&sr=8-33&xpid=Spw8BGqJAshjT
I would look into a quality brass ball valve. If these are still too stiff for her to be comfortable with you can always extend the handle for more leverage. Even just a short piece of pipe that slips over the handle would work if need be. I know you already have PVC and a PVC ball valve would be the easiest route but alot of those can be real sticky. Get an adapter to go from your PVC size to 1/2 pipe thread then install the ball valve. They make fittings to convert from the pipe thread directly to garden hose thread for the other end.
Probably your cheapest bang for buck.
Often what makes these frost free is that they’re fed from a long pipe attached that is typically connected deep under the frost level of the ground.
Cut the pipe. Thread the pipe at the length you want. Let your wife enjoy getting her hands on your _-cough-_ hydrant.
Sounds like she needs more leverage – maybe something like this https://faucetgrip.com/
Quarter turn ball valve with a straight handle on it. Add a short piece of pipe to fill buckets
The yard hydrant we got is frost resistant but that is just because it has a check valve at the bottom that drains it when turned off. It’s around 75 bucks. It is buried about a foot in the ground. I can get you the name brand in the morning when I am at work.
Prier all day long!!
Just go to Menards and get the 4′ frost free, all it is is a special drain that keeps it from freezing in the pipe, but since you don’t need it to not freeze it’ll still work. They have a 4,6,&8 foot I believe but a 4 will work just fine. They have instructions on them