What are frost free hose valves?
Living in a climate like New Jersey you may find it beneficial to have a frost free hose valve. A frost-free hose valve is an outdoor faucet that is designed to prevent freezing when installed on your home. They are usually on the outside of your home and are useful for watering plants, washing cars and cleaning outdoor areas etc.
What makes a frost free hose valve different from a regular hose valve is that they have a long stem that extends into the heated part of the building. The stem closing inside the building prevents water from being trapped inside the part of the faucet that is exposed to the elements. Additionally frost free hose valves typically have a back flow preventer built into them. Anti-siphon hose valves are important to prevent cross contamination of your drinking water.
Do frost free hose valves come in different sizes and shapes?
Take a trip to your plumbing supply store and you may find many different types of hose valves which can accommodate your homes needs. Manufactures of frost free hose valves make several different lengths of anti-siphon valves. Commonly we see six to twelve inch long hose valve stems and sometimes longer. If your home has a masonry wall it can easily need a longer stem. It is even possible to run hot water to frost free hose valves which can be great for bathing dogs.
Another type of hose valve that we commonly see in rural settings are yard hydrants. Yard hydrants are similar to frost frees except they are not connected to your home. Often you’ll see them in fields, ball parks, farms, places where water is needed further from your house. Yard hydrants also have a long stem which can be up to 6 foot long and the stem goes into the ground to prevent freezing. The bottom of the yard hydrant should have a weep hole for leftover water to drain out of the hydrant. Installing a yard hydrant is possible virtually anywhere on a property.
Wolyn Services installs all types of hose valves. George the owner has the equipment and the know how to get your plumbing problems fixed properly. We stock many different types and sizes of anti-siphon frost free hose valves. Often times we carry the exact one you need on our trucks!
Why did my hose valve leak inside my house in the spring?
Every spring we get a surge of clients who have hose valves that are leaking into their home. unfortunately this can easily cause serious damage and is usually preventable. Usually what is the main culprit is not taking the garden hose off during colder months. Believe it or not a garden hose may easily stop water from draining out of the frost free hose valve. Then when winter comes it is possible for the valve to freeze and crack. I find that by removing the hose in the fall, the water can drain out and avoid breaking from being frozen.
Can I install a new hose valve myself?
When a hose valve is leaking into your home, replacement is often the only option. Generally a decent plumber will have a shutoff valve installed upstream from your hose valve in order to isolate it in case of a leak. One of the issues that I often run into is that the old hose valve was soldered into the pipes. This can be a hassle for you if, you are not able to solder. When there is a threaded adaptor you may have a much easier time replacing the unit yourself.
