Reinforce PVC Hose Spout

[Whiskeymike]

Yesterday, we had quite the experience, feel free to skip to the bottom for the actual question. We loaded up the burn barrel with cardboard that had been accumulating in the shop and burned it off. With the last cardboard that went in, an ember came out, hit the grass and started a small brush fire that we didn't notice for a few minutes. I told my 13yr old son to run over to the hose spout and turn on the water and we would dose the grass.

Now, our spout is PVC, came out of the ground a few feet and terminated in a standard bib. He first tried to the turn the handle and it didn't budge. He then took a stance, put both hands on the handle, turned it with his He-Man strength, and ripped the spout out of the ground, breaking it about 1.5' below the ground. He looked up with that face that clearly shows he knows his father is going to kill him. Now we had a fire growing to about a 20 ft circle and water shooting out of the ground about 2 feet in the air. Fortunately, I was able to put the fire out with my boot scraping along the edge and spent the next hour replacing the PVC.

So, now that it's back together, what ways have you come up with to reinforce a PVC faucet spout that doesn't have a building wall to attach to for strength?

My current plan is to drive a piece of 2x2 angle into the ground, strap the PVC to the inside of the angle, but wondering if there are better ways to protect this. Seems like this would protect it from a weed eater when trimming the area.

 

[Falcon67]

I have a 3/4" that stick up about 3', next to the well. I drove a T-post into the ground and strapped the PVC pipe to it with a couple of hose clamps. The hose bib it a good brass quarter turn valve. Been out in the weather two years now.

 

[levimorris85]

Freeze proof hydrant and a T-post. never have to worry again. The only reason i say freeze proof is i like them and the metal pipe is a little stronger than the pvc with a weed eater or something else down the road.

 

[sherlocktk]

I transition from PVC to galvanized underground about 2 ft before the spout horizontally, 24 inches of galvanized, then an ell, then 2-3ft of galvanized going up. This allows it to have strength and due to the 2ft horizontal run, puts very little load on the PVC. (No Freezing in Cali)

 

[Lippyp]

Sink a wooden post into the ground and attach it with the proper pipe clips. To give added protection you could slit an extra length of pipe down one side slide it over the pipe and clamp it around it with hose clamps or even zip ties.