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Before frost-free hydrants, homeowners had to manually turn off the water to their outdoor spigots and drain the lines to keep the pipes from freezing when Old Man Winter blew into town. But like traditional sillcocks, they were nothing to look at—they poked out from the siding and stood out like sore thumbs.
Then, I got the chance to replace my old, worn spigot with an Aquor house hydrant, and now I’m going to replace every spigot on the house with one of these. The Aquor hydrant is frost-free and comes with backflow protection, but best of all, it looks amazing—sleek and subdued.
I also consulted Cash Walcome, CEO and co-founder of Aquor Water Systems, to learn more about the hydrant and the company’s plans for upcoming innovations. Keep reading to discover how my installation went and to find out what Aquor has waiting in the wings.
Aquor House Hydrant V1+: At a Glance
Our rating: 4.9/5
| Aquor House Hydrant Specs | |
| Type | Frost-free outdoor hydrant |
| Operation pressure | 25 to 125 pounds per square inch |
| Materials | Stainless steel, polymers |
| Ratings/Certifications | ASSE 1019C, ASME A112.19.1, CASB 125.1 |
Testing the Aquor House Hydrant
Testing the Aquor House Hydrant was straightforward. I removed my old water spigot and replaced it with the new one. Once the new hydrant was installed, I connected a garden hose to the included Aquor straight hose connector and gave it a firm quarter-turn to form a leak-free, sealed connection.
I also tried Aquor’s angled hose connector, which features a shut-off valve. It is sold separately but well worth the purchase price. I liked both hose connectors, but each serves a slightly different purpose. If I had my druthers, I’d ask Aquor to offer bundled sets that included a hydrant and two or three different hose connectors.
| What We Like | What We Don’t Like |
| Sleek, modern appearance | Angle hose connector sold separately |
| Frost-free and backflow protection | |
| Exceptional build quality |
Material Matters
After unboxing, my first task was to assess the hydrant’s build quality, and I was impressed. “The Aquor hydrant is built from marine-grade stainless steel,” Walcome says, and “our connectors are made from a unique polymer rated for over a hundred thousand engagements.” I’m used to the standard brass hydrant body that comes with most faucets, so stainless steel is an especially nice upgrade. The entire product is very well made.
Installation
Some may find retrofitting an outdoor water spigot best left to plumbing pros, but as far as hydrants go, the Aquor house hydrant is relatively simple to install. I started by removing the old spigot and pulling PEX water pipe until the connector was just outside the wall before using a crescent wrench to twist off the old connectors. If you have copper pipes, you’ll want to make the disconnects/new connects from indoors.
The Aquor hydrant comes with a nifty template that can be used to position the hydrant and faceplate in the desired spot. It has a place where a hole can be drilled for new construction and the correct spots for the screw holes, which should be predrilled before attaching the new hydrant body.
To ensure a good seal, I wrapped several rounds of plumber’s thread seal tape around the male end of the water pipe connector, and then, for extra assurance, I applied a thin layer of Blue Monster, arguably the best liquid thread seal on the market in my experience. It’s better to err on the side of caution here and overdo it rather than run into leaks later.
Connecting the new stainless steel hydrant body was easy—it twisted right on—although I did need to use two crescent wrenches to snug it sufficiently tight. After that, all that was left to do was push the hydrant body back into the wall, insert the wedge-shaped backplate Aquor provides behind the face plate, and insert the screws. Voila! A snazzy new hydrant with a lid that covered the hole when not in use. I loved the look.
Performance and Safety
So, how does the Aquor frost-free faucet work? It’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Actually, it worked on the first try for me. I attached my garden hose to the straight hose connector, inserted the other end into the Aquor hydrant, and gave it a firm one-quarter turn clockwise. It locked into place and triggered the water flow.
To stop watering, I turned the connector in the opposite direction, and it came right out. Residual water immediately drained out of the opening. That’s important because it shows the inner hydrant body is not retaining water. The optional angle hose connector can be left in place if desired, and has its own shut-off valve. I connected a multihose fixture and used it to connect four hoses simultaneously.
Many communities, including mine, require backflow protection on outdoor spigots. “Aquor has third-party tested vacuum breakers that meet plumbing code,” Walcome says. “They’re tested to 150,000 engagements!” Even if your community doesn’t require backflow protection, it’s in your family’s best interest to install a hydrant that offers it to prevent contaminated water from backing up into the pipes that contain drinking water.
What can we expect to see from Aquor in the future?
Before I let Walcome get back to the business of making quality hydrants, I asked if Aquor would be releasing any new types of hydrants or technology in the upcoming months.
“Aquor will be expanding into lawn and garden products,” Walcome says. “Our hope is to complete a seamless ecosystem of products that will fill your backyard. Our goal is to encourage a greener lifestyle by providing products unique in design, easy to use, and reliable.”
I’m a fan, and in addition to my plans to replace the rest of the outdoor spigots in my home, I’m already figuring out where to install Aquor’s Hot/Cold outdoor spigot—it’s just the thing I need for bathing my dogs.
Worth Every Penny: Breaking Down Aquor’s Price
The Aquor House Hydrant V1+ sells for $84.95 on Amazon and $119.99 on Aquor. The additional angled hose connector I tested sells for $22.99 in both places. No matter where you buy the hydrant, you’re going to get a top-quality product. If you don’t know exactly what you need, buying on Aquor might be the smartest move because they offer installation videos and an interactive stem-length quiz to ensure you get the right model.
Aquor house hydrants are a little pricier than frost-free hydrants I’ve installed in the past, but the quality is exceptional. “Our hydrant comes with a lifetime warranty, while our connectors come with a 5-year warranty,” Walcome says.
You can find cheaper outdoor house hydrants (I’ve installed many over the years), but they all have the same problem: They detract from the look of the house. There’s nothing attractive about a brass or steel sillcock sticking out of the siding. For my money, Aquor is a shoo-in. It’s the highest-quality hydrant I’ve ever had on my home, and I love the look.
Buy the Aquor House Hydrant on:
Product Comparisons
| Aquor House Hydrant | Sharkbite Sillcock | Proline | Woodford | |
| Freeze protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Materials | Stainless steel, heavy-duty polymers | Brass | Metal, plastic | Cast aluminum |
| Removable hose connector | Yes | No | No | No |
| Price | $84.95 | $31.96 | $37.98 | $69.77 |
So, is the Aquor House Hydrant right for you?
If you’re a homeowner looking for a sleek, modern outdoor hydrant, you won’t regret installing the Aquor hydrant. It’s a good outdoor faucet for colder climates where temperatures dip below freezing. It offers excellent build quality, and the removable hose connector can be connected in a pinch on a winter’s day when water is needed and then disconnected with a simple twist.
For me, it’s the perfect choice to replace those outdated spigots I never liked. However, if you’re on a budget, you can find a basic, lower-cost model that will fit your needs.
Meet the Tester
Glenda Taylor is a contractor, product tester, and writer focusing primarily on construction, DIY tools, and home appliances.
