Drinking Post is an automatic frost-free waterer. 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. The Drinking Post functions and installs like a frost-free hydrant.

No standing water.

When selecting an automatic waterer, you should consider if there’s standing water above the frostline. Most watering methods (both automatic and manual) have a reservoir of standing water that the animal drinks from – think of a trough, tank, or standard auto waterer that’s refilled automatically. This reservoir of standing water is the cause of most watering issues! It’s what freezes, gets dirty, grows algae, attracts bugs, harbors water-borne illnesses, etc. To keep this reservoir from freezing in the winter, usually a heater or insulation is used. In the summer, it must be scrubbed regularly to get rid of algae growth.

The Drinking Post circumvents all these issues because there is no standing water. The Drinking Post has an empty bowl with a paddle that the animal will push. When the paddle is pushed, fresh water fills the bowl. When the paddle is released, all the water drains away, leaving the unit empty. Since the unit is completely empty when it’s not in use, there’s no water in there that can freeze, grow algae, get dirty, etc. This is a very similar concept to a frost-free hydrant.

Works like a frost-free hydrant.

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.

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 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!

To operate the Drinking Post, a thirsty animal simply presses their nose on the paddle. When the paddle is pushed, water will begin to fill the bowl immediately and a full bowl will fill in 5-10 seconds. When they’re finished, they’ll release the paddle and walk away. The water will begin to drain immediately and will drain completely in under a minute. It’s a gravity-fed drain, so the water just falls down through the unit and into the leach field below the Drinking Post. Once the Drinking Post is properly installed, you’ll teach your animals to push the paddle. Each Drinking Post comes with a Training Paddle that you will clip onto your flat paddle. Please see our Training Guide for more specifics on training.

Installation is very important.

Installation 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) making sure the base is deep enough (at least 18″ below the frostline), and (2) making 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.

The benefits of auto waterers that don't use electricity

  • Eliminate 100% of your electric bill
  • No potential for electric shock
  • No potential for barn or structure fires caused by heaters
  • No chance for accidentally overheated water from an improperly adjusted heating element.
Buy a Post!

Buy a Post!

Ready to say goodbye to scrubbing algae and chopping ice? Start a new chapter of Worry-Free Watering! Click below to shop our Drinking Posts!

Lisa Avery photo 3 - Photo Call Out

Summer Benefits

Water intake can double in the summer months for horses and livestock! It’s important to make sure your animals have a reliable water source to keep them hydrated and healthy all summer long!

Jamie Bartlett photo 2 Edited - cropped to square

Winter Benefits

Winter watering can be difficult and expensive. The Drinking Post makes winter watering cheap and easy! It stays frost-free all winter long without any electricity! It’s been tested in temps as low as -50 F/-45.6 C!

Easy Installation

Installation Info

No electricity, no cement pad, no problem! All you need is a pressurized waterline. Click the button below to learn more about the Drinking Post installation!

Translate »