I have some questions about burning down an old chicken coop with working water hydrant inside?

Question

The hydrant is the frost-free style and the water line has no shut offs and 2 other hydrants. This is at the neighbors, and they want to be able to use the hydrant for their garden after the old building is gone. Is there a way to protect the hydrant during the fire, or do they have to dig up the line and put a shut-off valve in and tear out the hydrant before burning down the old building? There really isn't a place to push the building into a burn pile somewhere else, and it is full of the previous owners junk.

Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Those frost free water hydrants are deep enough to the water line that the heat shouldn't hurt the line, even if it is polyethylene. Your biggest problem is going to be protecting the hydrant itself from something falling on it breaking it off. I would wrap it in a lot of insulating materials, like a bunch of old feed sacks, and put something metal over it like an upside down garbage can. Then weight it down with some stones or concrete blocks before starting the fire. The hydrant should make it through the fire fine. Soak it down good in oil afterwards.

Answer 2

You'll probably burn the packing out from around the control shaft.  That's what keeps water from leaking out the top when it's turned on.  The fire will also burn the galvanize off of the pipe and then it will rust for sure.  I'd look at stacking concrete blocks around it in a square and fill the center with soil.  That'll insulate it well enough to prevent damage.

Answer 3

Where do you live that people are allowed to dispose of waste by burning?   It seems very dangerous as well as polluting.