"Steve B" wrote:

I am wondering if it would be more economical to run a main line of about
500 feet, using some sort of plastic pipe (cannot remember the name of the
current most common), and then run my hose branches from that ? (The main
line would have to lay on the ground, through the woods). Whatever I use,
I need to be able to drain the line during winters, but I suppose I could
get fittings for this equipped with a drain screw or valve or something.

Investigate underground piping, and associated valves. There is one that
opens a valve in the ground below freezing level, and when the water is
turned off, drains the water in the stand pipe to keep it from freezing. No
need to totally drain the lines if you put them in deep enough. Not sure of
their name, but I have seen lots of them in freezing country. They are red,
and have a crooked handle top.

Those work like frost proof hose bibs coming through a basement
foundation, the warmth of the basement prevents freezing because the
valve stem is long enough to reach through the foundation wall to the
valve that is actually inside the basement... I have four of them in
my house... they work well providing they are pitched downward so they
drain when the valve is closed... costs about four times as much as an
ordinary hose bib, maybe $30 for a 1/2" supply line. Farmers use the
type you're talking about, the warmer ground keeps them from
freezing... the valve portion is down below the frost line with a very
long valve stem... they are quite expensive, especially as pipe
diameter increases... they need to be blown out before the first hard
frost. There's another type that municipal water companys install at
the curb in cold climes, they are way down in a vault that's installed
past the frost line, with a long handled wrench to operate the valve,
again very expensive.

http://www.theplumbinginfo.com/troub...-and-spigot-2/