Prepare for Winter: How to Protect Your Hydrants Before It’s Too Late
- Fred Grinnell
- Jun 13
- 2 min read
When winter hits, unprepared fire protection systems can quickly turn from assets into major liabilities. At Flameout Fabrication and Design, we’ve seen it all...cracked hydrants, frozen swing-out valves, flooded facilities, and costly emergency responses. The culprit? Water that’s left sitting in fire hydrants and components, which freezes, expands, and causes catastrophic damage.
Once water freezes inside a hydrant, the expansion can lead to massive cracks, many of which render the hydrant unusable. Not only is this a direct safety hazard, but it also leads to:
Operational downtime
Costly repairs or complete replacements
Emergency fire crew watches (24/7 coverage)
Regulatory concerns and insurance liabilities
Some facilities are forced to bring in fire crews to stand watch around the clock, which can quickly drain budgets. The worst part? All of this is entirely preventable.
How to Winterize Your Hydrants: A Simple 3-Step Process
To avoid these issues, the key is to eliminate the root cause: standing water. Here’s the winter prep checklist we recommend:
Cut off water pressure to all exterior hydrants.
Open swing-out valves to allow water to drain from the system.
Keep valves open for 10–20 minutes, ensuring all residual water is cleared, then close them back up securely.
By removing the water before freezing temps hit, you prevent the internal pressure build-up that leads to failure.
The #1 Point of Failure: Swing-Out Valves
From our years in the field, swing-out valves remain the most common failure point during freezes. At Flameout, we’re prepared...we stock over 200 swing-out valves at all times to help facilities make quick, on-the-spot replacements before or during winter emergencies.
Why Flameout Hydrants Are Built Different
Every Flameout hydrant is fabricated with Therm-O-Mega freeze plugs -a powerful line of defense against freeze damage. These engineered plugs release built-up pressure the moment it occurs, protecting the hydrant body from cracks and bursts.
And if you're in a pinch, we keep hydrants in inventory year-round, ready to ship at a moment’s notice.
Don’t Wait Until It's Too Late
Winter preparation isn’t just smart, it’s essential. By taking action now, you can:
Prevent system failures
Protect your facility from fire hazards
Avoid emergency costs
Ensure compliance with safety standards
Let’s build your winter readiness plan together. Contact Flameout Fabrication and Design today, and we’ll help you prepare, protect, and stay operational - no matter how low the temperature drops.
Get in touch with us today and let’s start building the right solution together!
At Flameout Fabrication and Design, we specialize in creating fire protection systems tailored to the unique demands of industrial operations. Whether you're in the early planning stages or ready to move forward with a request for proposal, our team is here to help.
We would love the opportunity to learn more about your facility and discuss how our products and services can meet your specific needs. From custom system design to product recommendations and detailed quotes, we are ready to support you every step of the way.
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