Just like you depend on firefighters to put out a fire, firefighters depend on fire hydrants for their water supply. Coming full circle, your community’s private fire hydrants then depend on you to keep up on inspections and testing to remain in working condition. If you fail to regularly inspect and test your hydrant, you are putting your community at serious risk. The water supply provided by your fire hydrant is crucial to keeping your community in the event of a fire.
How often Should you Test and Inspect your Private Fire Hydrant?
It’s essential to make sure your fire hydrant is in good condition and ready for use. According to NFPA 25, annual inspections and tests are necessary to preserve the proper functioning of the hydrant. Inspections should be done each year as well as after every time it’s used – this ensures that if a fire does occur, you can rely on your hydrants’ performance. Don’t forget flow testing annually too! Following these guidelines prescribed by NFPA 25 will keep your hydrant running smoothly all year round so don’t wait until it’s too late – inspect now!
What is included in Inspections and testing?
Inspections and testing typically include checks for optimal operations of your hydrant. Checks done by your professional fire team may include:
- What’s the first thing on their list? Well, it’s looking for any leaks or cracks. Can you imagine the mess a leaky hydrant could make? Not to mention the danger it could pose.
- Next up, they’re checking for a missing cap. Doesn’t sound like a big deal, right? But, without the cap, a hydrant’s like a car without a fuel cap – stuff could get in and mess it up.
- Speaking of stuff getting in, they also ensure there are no obstructions messing with the hydrant. Things like sticks or leaves could really interfere with the flow of water. Kind of like when you try to drink a milkshake but there’s a chunk of ice cream blocking your straw. Frustrating, isn’t it?
- Then they’re checking out the nozzles, gaskets, and valves. If any of those are broken or leaking, it’s like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it – practically impossible!
- Now, time to look at the body of the hydrant. It’s not about beauty, it’s about height and condition. Too tall or too short, and it’s a problem. Just right, and it’s good to go!
- The pressure gauge comes in handy next. They use it to check the water flow. That’s right, just like your shower at home, even hydrants have their own pressure!
- And just how much water can a hydrant spew out? That’s what they find out next. They test the flow to figure out the pressure and the speed of the water.
- They also need to measure the static and residual pressures. It’s like finding out how much water’s still in the hose even when you’ve stopped spraying.
- Finally, they determine if there are any blockages. These blockages are sneaky little things that can pop up and slow down the water flow.
Brazas Fire Private Fire Hydrant Inspection and Testing
Don’t get caught in a bind – keep your fire hydrant up-to-date with annual inspections and flow tests from Brazas Fire. Our experienced professionals will give you peace of mind that your water supply is reliable when needed most.
We make sure every component connected to the hydrant is working properly, so you can trust our service for all of your fire safety needs. Schedule an inspection today and take one more step towards protecting yourself and those around you!