Have I killed our hazer?

[samchurchill]

Hi, can someone help me work out whether I've killed our hazer or, at the very least, helped it on its way?

We've got a Antari Z350 fazer which has stopped outputting.  It ran dry but, having filled it up, it's not drawing the fluid through.  I disconnected the output of the pump to see whether it was blocked there and it wasn't spurting, and possibly wasn't making its normal "pumping" sound.  I then tried to help it on its way by using a syringe to gently pull fluid through the pump which worked, so no complete upstream blockage.

Also, when I used the syringe to push fluid as if I was the pump, it was coming through fine, so I don't think the heater is blocked.

Do you think it running dry has caused a problem in the pump, which I have then potentially made worse by pulling the fluid through, or should I be looking elsewhere before buying a new pump?

Thanks!

[ANDYLASER]

Many pumps depend on the liquid being present to keep the pump cool. Its possible it might have overheated it when it ran dry.

Edited November 11 by ANDYLASER

[sunray]

4 hours ago, samchurchill said:

Hi, can someone help me work out whether I've killed our hazer or, at the very least, helped it on its way?

We've got a Antari Z350 fazer which has stopped outputting.  It ran dry but, having filled it up, it's not drawing the fluid through.  I disconnected the output of the pump to see whether it was blocked there and it wasn't spurting, and possibly wasn't making its normal "pumping" sound.  I then tried to help it on its way by using a syringe to gently pull fluid through the pump which worked, so no complete upstream blockage.

Also, when I used the syringe to push fluid as if I was the pump, it was coming through fine, so I don't think the heater is blocked.

Do you think it running dry has caused a problem in the pump, which I have then potentially made worse by pulling the fluid through, or should I be looking elsewhere before buying a new pump?

Thanks!

As the pump is suspect, I would disconnect and remove it from the unit and recreate the system externally; ie a resavoir feeding it and a pipe on the output looping over the top of the resavoir and run the pump. The pump may require back pressure, AKA a finger over the end of the pipeOf course check the pump electrical requirements, some use pulsed 100 or 230V AC or DC, some are 12 or 24V.

If that pumps ok lift the pump p well above the water level to check it sucks too.

Edited November 11 by sunray

[samchurchill]

Thanks both, will give it a try

[James Remo]

The pumps used in the majority of quality smoke machines are made by ULKA, and are often much cheaper to source directly, rather than paying the mark up that smoke machine manufacturers put on them

[alistermorton]

That's a useful snippet of knowledge, James. Thanks.