Fire Hydrant System Maintenance

A fire hydrant should be checked once a year in North Carolina to ensure that it is working correctly. If you have a dry-barrel fire hydrant, you should have it checked twice per year. Additionally, it is recommended that a fire hydrant be checked after it is used to make sure that it is still in good shape. To get your fire hydrant inspected, call us today.

Some benefits of fire hydrant system maintenance are: 

• Your fire hydrant will properly function in the case of an emergency.
• You can spot repair needs early on. 
• Any obstructions around your fire hydrant will be cleared.

Fire hydrant maintenance is important because an unmaintained fire hydrant may not be able to operate in the case of a fire. Fire fighters need to be able to access the water supply easily, so a malfunctioning fire hydrant can be a huge safety hazard. To get your fire hydrant serviced, contact us today.

Depending on where the fire hydrant is located, the city, the fire department or a fire hydrant technician will maintain it. If the fire hydrant is located on city property, the city or the fire department will maintain it. However, if a fire hydrant is located on residential or commercial property, then the landowner will be responsible for having the fire hydrant regularly maintained. For commercial or residential landowners, it is recommended that they have a fire hydrant technician perform regular maintenance on their fire hydrant. Give us a call today to get your fire hydrant serviced.

Yes, fire hydrants need to be periodically flushed. Flushing fire hydrants is required to ensure that appropriate flow and pressure are available. Flushing also eliminates debris from distribution pipes, ensuring that the water remains clear and of good quality. Flushing works by increasing the flow of water through the system. Any minerals and deposits in the pipes are stirred up and flushed out as a result of the increased flow.

Because iron and other mineral deposits in the water mains are churned up during hydrant flushing, the water may seem rust-colored for a short period. Water that is discolored does not pose a health risk. During hydrant flushing, the water is safe to use and drink, but it may discolor clothing.

For effective firefighting and to prevent backflow that could contaminate the public water supply, the 2019 edition of NFPA 291: Recommended Practice for Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants (4.1.3) recommends that fire hydrants maintain a residual pressure of 20 psi (pounds per square inch), or 1.4 bar.

The 2019 edition of NFPA 291: Recommended Practice for Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants (4.1.3) recommends that fire hydrants maintain a residual pressure of 20 psi (pounds per square inch) and that the minimum fire flow from any individual fire hydrant shall be 500 gpm.