How To: Replace a Diaphragm in your Air Pump

If you experience a loss of flow or total loss of flow on your air pump there are a few troubleshooting steps you'll need to take prior to replacing diaphragms.

First, make sure your circuit has power and the GFI is not tripped. Believe it or not, this is the most common issue. Which is often overlooked. Check the power cord for cuts, tears. Then, inspect the airline for the same.

Examine check-valves as well. If one line isn't working, go ahead and swap one of the working lines with the defective. This will tell us right off the bat if the tubing is the issue, and not the pump itself. Finally, open up your air pump and inspect the diaphragms. *Make sure to always unplug the unit prior to servicing.

To disassemble, flip the unit over and remove the Philips head screws holding the base to the cover. Once you have the unit apart, go ahead and inspect and replace the diaphragms if necessary.

The lifespan of a rubber diaphragm has many variables. It depends on usage, pressure, temperature, moisture, care, etc. They are generally inexpensive to replace.

As I can see, this diaphragm is torn so we'll replace. To remove, there's a single Philips screw on the backside here. Very simple.

For more information on what we discussed today, or troubleshooting other air pumps please give us a call.

Article Posted: 02/08/2017 05:00:08 PM