Everything You Need To Know About Fire Hydrant Repair

Fire hydrants are used to control and extinguish fires and also allow water from the public water systems to flow into your pipeline at high pressure. Fire hydrants also play a crucial role in maintaining the proper function of water systems so that water is supplied to the entire city at a steady flow.

Generally, public and private fire hydrants run through a connection to the main water utility pipeline underground, but this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, privately-owned fire hydrants also deliver different types of water supply.

In today’s blog post, we will discuss everything you should know about fire hydrants; what they are, how to test fire hydrants, and types of fire hydrant repairs.

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So now that we know what fire hydrants are let’s look into how they are tested to see if they are working optimally.

Types of Fire Hydrant Tests

Static Pressure Test

This test is performed by attaching the static pressure assembly to the standpipe, ensuring the vent cock is open. Then, while the vent cock is closed and the standpipe is free of air, the hydrant is opened.

A pressure reading is taken while the hydrant remains closed. However, the vent cock is then left open to release the pressure before the standpipe assembly is removed.

Flow Test

When taking a flow test, the main is flushed for approximately a minute to clear any debris blocking the flow sensor. Then, the flow tube is attached to the hydrant standpipe while the hydrant valve is kept fully open. The main is flushed, which then displays a digital reading to be taken.

Visual Inspection

A simple visual inspection includes the following:

• Identifying the hydrant frame
• The cover
• The surface around the hydrant
• Checking the indicator plate
• Age of the hydrant
• Where its located
• The material the hydrant is made of

The Various Types of Fire Hydrant Repairs

There are three main ways to repair a fire hydrant, depending on your fire hydrant’s level of damage.

1. Carefully examine your fire hydrant’s O-rings to make sure they are working properly. If they appear to be damaged and show signs of deterioration, it’s time to replace them with new parts.

2. To ensure your fire hydrant runs smoothly, it is recommended to check the operating nut and stem annually and lubricate them whenever necessary.

3. Lastly, your fire hydrant’s height can be affected by construction or landscaping work taking place nearby. These movements affect the fire hydrant’s ground levels, causing changes to its height and affecting its function. When this happens, you need to adjust the fire hydrant’s height and add a fire hydrant extension kit for this purpose.

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