Your pump and tubing should be regularly cleaned out over time to limit buildup, which might cause your pump to stop working. In general, we recommend that you clean out your pump and tubing once every month. Please follow along with this guide and watch the attached walkthrough videos to learn how to clean out your pump. 

How to disassemble your pump:

Walkthrough videos: 

Disassemble a DC30 Pump

Disassemble a DC40 Pump

How to disassemble your supply line:

1. Unplug your pump and disconnect the supply line from the pump’s output. You can do this by simply pulling the clear tubing away from the pump and it will easily detach.
2. Pull the supply line out of your Garden. On the left-hand side of each level of your Garden, you will see a small round hole where the supply line has been threaded through. Pull from there until you reach the end of the clear tubing.
3. Your supply line may consist of several attached pieces of clear tubing, or it may be one continuous tube. If you see a juncture where two pieces of tubing are attached, you can pull the pieces apart to simplify the cleaning process. 

NOTE: Over time, your supply line may show wear and tear, and excessive nutrient buildup can make it difficult to clean. If you are unable to clean out your supply line, you can purchase a replacement HERE.

How to clean out your pump and supply line tubing:

Step 1

Unplug your pump from the control board (power strip) and then detach your pump mount from the water tank by unscrewing the two white screws on the front.

Step 2

Pull out your grey foam filter from the pump mount and rinse it thoroughly with soapy water. Make sure to remove any buildup found by the pump intake (the little nozzle).

Step 3

Once you have removed your supply line, take it over to the sink and bend it back and forth to break up any solids coating your tube. Run warm water through the tube until clear. (This coating is extra nutrients that may have built up due to improper nutrient mixing. To avoid future problems, make sure you are adding water in-between each time you add nutrients to your Garden).

Step 4

Pull out your pump from the clear supply line tubing. Rinse out your pump, filter, and supply line, and then thread your supply line back down your levels until it hits the water bin. Re-connect it to your pump, put your foam filter back, and place your pump into the water. Plug the pump into your control board in the "pump" outlet before securing it with screws to make sure it is fixed.

You're done!

If you notice any problems with your pump after you've cleaned it, you might have an air bubble stuck in your pump. Please follow this guide to troubleshoot problems with your pump:

Family Garden Pump Troubleshooting Guide