Which hydrant design is typically used in freezing climates due to its ability to drain water after use?

Which hydrant design is typically used in freezing climates due to its ability to drain water after use?

• A. Drafting
• B. Wet-barrel
• C. Dry-barrel
• D. Dead end

Answer: (C)

Drainage design to prevent freezing in hydrants is tested here. A dry-barrel hydrant keeps the valve and supply in a dry, buried space, so when the hydrant is not in use the water is kept out of the above-ground portion. When you open the hydrant, water fills the vertical barrel; after you close it, a drain at the base opens to let the water in the barrel drain back into the main. This ensures there’s no water left in the section that can freeze, which is essential in freezing climates. Wet-barrel hydrants have their internal barrel constantly filled with water, so they are prone to freezing in cold weather. Drafting describes the method of obtaining water from a hydrant for firefighting, not a design that drains itself; dead end is not a hydrant design used for drainage.

Drainage design to prevent freezing in hydrants is tested here. A dry-barrel hydrant keeps the valve and supply in a dry, buried space, so when the hydrant is not in use the water is kept out of the above-ground portion. When you open the hydrant, water fills the vertical barrel; after you close it, a drain at the base opens to let the water in the barrel drain back into the main. This ensures there’s no water left in the section that can freeze, which is essential in freezing climates. Wet-barrel hydrants have their internal barrel constantly filled with water, so they are prone to freezing in cold weather. Drafting describes the method of obtaining water from a hydrant for firefighting, not a design that drains itself; dead end is not a hydrant design used for drainage.