City of
Rockford Fire
& Rescue Department
Adopt-a-Hydrant
Painting Instructions and Helpful Hints
As
explained in the “introduction” of the program. The Fire
Department as made arrangements with Lamperts for the purchase of the Valspar
Industrial Enamel Paint, which is required to paint the hydrants. Lamperts can assist the adoptive family not
only with obtaining the paint but with the products needed to help make your
painting experience easy and successful.
You will need to present your adoption papers at Lamperts so the
adoption fund can be billed accordingly.
When
you begin the planning stage of how you want to paint your adopted hydrant keep
in mind that these are the following colors available at Lamperts:
Red White Blue
Each
adoptive family will need to follow the guidelines that Freddy Hydrant
explained in his introduction.
1.
So
as not to offend anyone, please paint your hydrant in good taste. No profanity,
religious or political symbols and no advertisements.
2.
The
hydrant must be visible at night, do not “camouflage” and remember grass is
green and snow is white.
3.
Please
do not paint inside of the thread around the cap. This area needs to be kept
clean so the cap won’t stick. The gasket material listed below will help you to
accomplish protecting the thread.
4.
Do
not alter any of the hydrants mechanical operations or add any special devices.
5.
The chain around the cap can be painted, but please make sure it
remains loose.
6.
On the back side of the hydrant you will see a name and date
please paint this area so it will remain legible/visible.
Getting
Started:
1.
Put a drop cloth around the hydrant to protect the grass or
sidewalk.
1.
Clean hydrant with mild soap.
2.
Use wire brush to remove loose paint, rust and any other debris.
3.
Wrap the gasket material around the thread of the cap.
Now you’re ready! Have fun and thank you for participating in
this program.
Don’t forget to remove the gasket material from the thread
of the cap
Volunteers
are asked to provide the following which you can also purchase at Lamperts:
- Wire or stiff bristle brush
- mild detergent, to clean dirt, rust, and loose paint from
the hydrant
- Pencil to sketch basic design onto
hydrant
- Paint brushes
- Gasket material – known as “Screen
Spline”
- Newspaper or drop cloth to protect
sidewalk or lawn
- Mineral spirits to clean brushes,
hands, and splashed or dribbled paint
Please remember to
return any un-used paints to Lamperts for the next adoptive family to use.