I understand that the actual water shutoff is located below ground level.
However, all it takes is a really slow leak to fill up the hydrant and as long as the caps are tight no one knows until it is needed. The additional height and distance from the ground will only make freezing more likely in the event of a slow leak or a very, very cold spell.
The water departments typically flush the hydrants once a year. The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) recommends that every hydrant be inspected at least once a year, and flow tested every 5 years.
Frozen hydrant? Been there, done that, and encountered a frozen hydrant when we really needed it. Generally the hydrants are located 500 feet apart so when that happens it is off to the next hydrant. When the fire is out there is a lot more hose to pick up and repack the truck.
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