Some of our most asked questions!
Blake Hydram FAQs
No, because the Blake’s Hydram will not work underwater.
No, because plastic is not rigid enough.
The upper tap is the Hydram starting level. Start water flowing to the Hydram with this tap open, once water starts to come out through the tap close it, the Hydram will start to pump.
Over time the fine hole in the air valve can get blocked or enlarged and this leads to the air vessel getting water bound or air bound and the Hydram stops pumping.
If you open the top air tap and let the excess water or air out the Hydram should start pumping again. But you need to change the air valve or the Hydram will keep stopping.
This should not be a problem for quite some years though dependent on how gritty or acidic your water is.
The lower tap is to drain the air vessel if you need to remove it.
Your Hydram pump has two clacks: a waste valve clack and a delivery valve clack.
There is a link to the price list on the Home Page. It can also be found here. (https://blakeshydram.co.uk/blake-hydram-pump-prices/)
The Hydram pump must be lower than the source of water.
It means the Hydram pump has to be lower than the source of water.
‘Vertical lift’ isn’t the total distance you are pumping the water, but the highest vertical point.
Yes, there is a clack in the delivery valve. Note – in the smaller Hydram pumps you must take the air vessel off to get to the clack, whereas the larger pumps have an access door.
Over time the fine hole in the air valve can get blocked or enlarged and this leads to the air vessel getting water bound or air bound and the Hydram stops pumping. The valve should be replaced.
If you simply drain the vessel of the water or air, the problem will reoccur again when you put it back together.
You may have either a blocked pipe or a leak.
To check for a blockage, shut off the Drivepipe and take the waste valve out, then open the pipe again. If water comes flowing out and rises well above the waste valve, the pipe is not blocked. If it doesn’t then the pipe is blocked.
To check for a leak. Shut off the Drivepipe (this time keeping the waste valve in place and tightening the clack). When you open it again, if there are air bubbles in the feed tank then you have a leak.
Yes, we can supply any parts needed for you to fit yourself or we can put you in touch with a water engineer who can service the Hydram for you.
We have records of all John Blake’s Hydrams, going back well over 100 years and should be able to identify which parts are in your Hydram. Spare parts for most units are still available.
The thing that most helps us to identify your Hydram is the serial number. This can be found on the nameplate which is usually fastened to the air vessel. Please have your serial number to hand before you call.