Go ahead and pressurize the line now to see that there are no leaks. If the supply tap is outdoors, you may need to locate the valve and install an outdoor valve box so you can access the valve and the joint easily in the future.Īttach the hydrant end of the supply line to a check valve that will prevent any water in the hydrant from working back into the system (some hydrants have integral check valves), then attach a 90-degree elbow to the inlet on the bottom of the hydrant and tighten things up. Connect the line to the source with a suitable ball valve so the outdoor line can be shut off independent of the rest of your system. Lay out your feed line-3/4-inch-diameter PEX rated for direct bury works well and is inexpensive. Fill that bottom foot with pea rock or crushed stone to act as a small French drain. Dig out a pit at the hydrant end that is roughly 3 feet in diameter and about a foot deeper than the level of the trench. Using a backhoe or trencher, create a trench that is safely below the frost line from the supply to the intended location of your hydrant. Consider carefully whether there are any other underground hazards before you begin digging. If applicable, also check your septic system map for buried sewer lines.

Once you have mapped out your ideal routing for the new water line, call 811 and have your place flagged for existing utilities that may be buried in the path of your new line. (Because factors such as climate, soil consistency and whether the latter has been disturbed can affect the depth of the frost line, check with local officials on how to calculate the necessary depth.) If you don’t have an outdoor line yet, you will want to tap into the cold water system inside your house or shop, and then exit the basement or crawlspace below the frost line. Next, locate an existing water line that you can tap into. Then, too, you’ll want to protect it from large stock so, if possible, it’s best to situate the hydrant on the outside of the pasture or corral. Ideally you want to place it next to the south-facing wall of a building where it can benefit the most from available sunshine. Be sure to situate it where it will be convenient for a number of purposes and unlikely to get hit by a vehicle, such as a snowplow, tractor or truck. The first step is to decide where you want the hydrant.

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