The Alternative to a Pool in the Hamptons
Amid all those reviews of mediocre bars, advice from repellent "dating experts," and lists of places to throw darts in Flushing, every once in a while Time Out NY offers up something truly useful. This week, they answer a question that has probably been on your minds for years. How on earth do you open one of those fire hydrants on a really hot summer afternoon? For, like, those days when your Olympic-size pool is "undergoing repairs."
1. There are two common brands of hydrants throughout the city: Smith and Dresser. Not only are they the easiest to find, they’re the easiest to open. "You can use a regular pipe wrench," says Jeffrey Ercolino, lieutenant of Engine Company 26.
2. Use the wrench to unscrew one of the two bolts on the side of the hydrant. Some turn clockwise, while others turn counterclockwise, so you may need to try both directions.
3. To release the water, slowly turn the bolt on the top clockwise. "The further you turn the bolt, the harder the water comes out," Ercolino warns. "The pressure ranges between 40 and 70 pounds per square inch, which is very powerful."
Oh, and by the way, this is illegal and will earn you a lifetime of enmity with your friends who belong to Greenpeace. Just so you know.
