CONCRETE

MODIFIED PIPE FITTING

FABRICATED PIPE FITTING

MANUFACTURED HYDRAM

WELDED STEEL

PLASTIC*

Cost

1

4

3

6

5

2

inexpensive

inexpensive

inexpensive

expensive

moderate

cheap

Serviceability

5

3

2

1

4

6

hard to repair the concrete

parts are hard to repair and usually requires replacement

sometimes difficult to get to the check valve

parts easily made or replaced

requires a welder

poor

Availability

Simplicity of Design

6

1

3

4

5

2

requires the greatest amount of time to construct

parts just screw together

most parts screw or bolt together some metal working

most parts are cast & sometimes the rubber parts are field fabricated

requires welding but no unique metal shapes

easy to built requires glueing

Ease of Transportation

6

2

3

5

4

1

extremely heavy

small and not very heavy

small and not very heavy

heaviest of the ferrous hydrams

heavy & bulky

very light

Longevity

3

5

4

1

2

6

if it does not freeze it should last as long as a mfg. Ram

will last about 1 year

no longevity studies done yet, but should last a long time

history of up to 25 yr without service

should last about as long as a mfg. ram

will last about one month

Efficiency

very little difference if built properly.