TROUBLESHOOTING AND MAINTENANCE

Water leaks from the outlet when the hydrant is off.

The rubber seat washer be worn or damaged and needs to be replaced. Follow instructions below on how to remove the operating pipe.

Lever handle hydrants use a spring tension to seat the rubber. Excessive supply pressure can cause the hydrant to leak.

Lever handle hydrants require a gap between the handle and surface the handle rides. If there is no gap and the handle does not have any play, it can leak.
Tighten nut under handle to achieve a gap.

If the hydrant leaks just after installation, the valve seat may be fouled with debris, such as small rocks. The operating rod will have to be removed and the hydrant casing flushed.

Packing leak. Water leaks from around the brass stem below the linkage when the hydrant is on.

Utility hydrants use an O-ring to seal the stem. First make sure the packing nut is tight. If the leak continues, the O-ring needs to be replaced.

Hydrant leaks from below the ground level when the hydrant is on.

Wheel handle hydrants must be open more than halfway or else they will leak from the drain during use.

If a lever handle or wheel handle hydrant leaks when full on, the plunger O-rings may be damaged and need to be replaced. Follow instructions below on how remove the operating pipe.

A large leak may be the result of a hole in the pipe casing caused by electrolysis corrosion. Some soil conditions can cause premature failure of the pipe casing near the valve body.

Hydrant will not drain when shut off.

Make sure there are no attachments on the nozzle, such as a hose or vacuum breaker. Make sure the hydrant is shut off completely.
A poor drain field around the valve body or a blocked drain hole will also prevent drainage.

Operating rod removal.

Lever handle hydrants. Shut off water supply to hydrant. Remove the set screw from the side of handle and pull the handle pin. Place the handle pin back in the hole in the stem.
The handle pin in the stem will keep the spring from loosing its compression and keep the assembly together. Unthread the largest nut from the tee or casting. Pry the rod assembly
loose from the valve seat and remove the rod.

Wheel handle hydrants. Shut off water supply to hydrant. Turn handle to full open. Unthread the largest nut from the tee.
Pry the rod assembly loose from the valve seat and remove the rod.