How to Restore Suction on a Spectra S1 Breast Pump

ID: 206031

Description: Loss of suction is one of the most common...

Steps:

1. Wash hands with soap and warm water prior to touching the pump parts.
2. Disassemble removable pump parts (flanges, tubing, valves, back flow protectors).

3. Inspect tubing for condensation, milk residue, holes, or loose connections.
4. Run tubing through fingers to identify deformities.
5. Use a backlight to look for moisture, mold, and/or discoloration.

6. Check duckbill valves for stretching, tears, or warping; replace if worn.
7. One way to effectively check the seal on a duckbill valve is to fill it with water and see if water leaks out.

8. Inspect membrane/backflow protectors for condensation, cracks, poor seal, or incorrect placement.

9. Reassemble parts carefully, ensuring tight seals and correct alignment.
10. Reattach duck bills to the bottoms of each flange. Reassemble backflow membranes. Attach membranes to port on the back of each flange.
11. Using one of the tubing pieces, attach one end to your backflow membrane and the other end to the pump.

12. Test suction using one side at a time to isolate potential issues.
13. Use the built-in cover over the port you aren’t testing and test each side of parts one at a time to identify unilateral problems.

14. Replace additional components (tubing or protectors) if suction is still weak.
15. Yellowing of components over time can be normal and does not necessarily indicate replacement is necessary. However, older parts are more susceptible to warping/cracking which may warrant replacement.