If you’re familiar with how a frost-free yard hydrant works, then you already understand how the Drinking Post works. Wikianswers says that “Frost-free yard hydrants are installed to provide water to various locations in the farmyard during all seasons of the year. They are manufactured and installed in such a way that they will operate throughout the winter without auxiliary heat.” This is the same as the Drinking Post – it can function in winter temperatures (as low as -50 F/-45.5 C) without any auxiliary heaters, electricity, or insulation.
How Does an Automatic Livestock Waterer Work?
The Drinking Post is a frost-free automatic livestock waterer that works on a simple principle: the bowl fills with fresh water each time the paddle is pushed, and all the water drains away when the paddle is released. The base of the Post sits 18″ below the frostline and connects directly to a pressurized waterline — no electricity, no heater, no insulation required.
Watch the video below for a quick overview of how the Drinking Post works.
watering simplified
No Standing Water
The root cause of most livestock watering problems — freezing in winter, algae in summer, dirty water year-round — is standing water. Most watering methods, both automatic and manual, hold a reservoir of water that sits above ground waiting for the animal to drink from it. That reservoir is what freezes, gets dirty, grows algae, attracts bugs, and harbors waterborne illness. Keeping it from freezing requires a heater. Keeping it clean requires regular scrubbing.
The Drinking Post eliminates the reservoir entirely. The bowl sits empty until an animal pushes the paddle. When the paddle is pushed, fresh water fills the bowl. When the paddle is released, all the water drains away, leaving the unit completely empty. With nothing sitting in the unit between uses, there is nothing to freeze, nothing to grow algae, and nothing to contaminate.
This is the same principle that makes a frost-free hydrant work — and it’s just as reliable.
Works Like a Frost-Free Hydrant
Frost-Free Hydrant
Like a traditional frost-free hydrant, the Drinking Post fills and drains with each use. All the water comes up from below the frostline and drains back down below the frostline after each use. The Drinking Post also installs like a frost-free hydrant, so any outdoor plumber or excavator can easily perform the installation. They can apply their knowledge of hydrants directly to the Drinking Post.
The Stop-and-Drain Valve
A major component of both the yard hydrant and the Drinking Post Automatic Waterer for livestock is a stop-and-drain valve. This valve is located 18″ below the local frostline. The paddle presses down on an activation rod which opens the valve. This allows water to flow up from the water line, through the valve, up through the unit, and into the bowl.
When the animal releases the paddle, the valve is closed, and the water falls down through the unit, back through the valve, and into a leach field below the Drinking Post. This leaves the unit completely empty of water, preventing freezing.
Not only does this keep the water from freezing, it also has the added benefit of keeping the water at a constant temp. Since the valve and waterline sit deep in the ground (at least 18″ below your frostline), they won’t be affected by the temperatures above ground. The water will come up at the same perfect drinking temp, 50 F/ 10 C all year long!
Just Push the Paddle!
The key component in both a frost-free hydrant and the Drinking Post is the stop-and-drain valve. This valve sits 18″ below the local frostline at the base of the unit.
When an animal pushes the paddle, it presses down on an activation rod that opens the valve. Water flows up from the waterline, through the valve, up through the unit, and into the bowl. When the animal releases the paddle, the valve closes and all the water falls back down through the unit, through the valve, and into a leach field below the Post — leaving the unit completely empty.
This drainage is also what keeps the water temperature consistent. Because the valve and waterline sit deep in the ground where surface temperatures can’t reach them, the water comes up at the same temperature every single time: 50°F/10°C, year-round. Animals drink more when water is at a consistent, palatable temperature — which is one reason Drinking Post users typically notice their animals drinking more frequently after installation.
If you want to see this in action for a specific animal type, see how it works for horses, cattle, goats, and sheep.
Installation
Proper installation of your automatic livestock waterer is very important! You will get an Installation Guide in your Drinking Post box, be sure you read it carefully and follow all the instructions. Installation is easy, any outdoor plumber or excavator can do it. Many of our Dealers also offer installation, and many customers install their own Drinking Posts if they have access to digging equipment.
The two most important parts of installation are
1.) Make sure the base is deep enough (at least 18″ below the frostline), and
2.) Ensure sure the leach field is big enough (at least 3′ x 3′ x 1′ deep).
Check out the installation diagram below to get an idea of what installation should look like. Click the button below to go to our page that discusses installation in more detail.
No Electricity
Drinking Post Automatic Livestock Waterers do not require any electricity, heaters, or insulation to stay frost-free.
Since all the water drains below the frostline after each use, there’s nothing left in the unit that can freeze. This prevents freezing without the need for a heater or electricity.
This is similar to a frost-free hydrant and is very effective way to prevent freezing, in fact, the Drinking Post can withstand temps as low a -50 F/-45.5 C!
Not only will Drinking Post keep your water frost-free, but it will also save you money. Drinking Post will eliminate the need to heat your livestocks water all winter – which will save you a lot of money over time! Plus, removing electricity from your watering method will completely eliminate the potential for electric shock (electricity and water don’t go well together!), barn or structure fires, and overheating your water due to an improperly adjusted heating element. All of these complications will be completely avoided.
In short, the Drinking Post makes watering easy!
