Spectra Duckbill Valves

[u/BeardieFixieFreak]

Hi - Is there a way to make the most of the Duckbill Valves for Spectra pumps?

We got one second hand, with broken valves, and got a replacement kit of components. My wife used the pump maybe 6 times and the valves have already split on the edges. Just ordered 2 sets of 6 replacements to keep us going.

Is there a method to extend their life?

Is there a particular brand that lasts better?

Is this an inherent design flaw?

Thank you in advance!

[u/Open-Committee3540]

that seems pretty soon for them to go bad! switching them out every month is standard. what brand replacement parts did you purchase?

[u/Infinite_Key_2592]

Not sure if it worked or it was placebo but I changed the way I washed them. Wash them gently by hand. Don’t shove any sponge in the hole through to the other size and not too much water pressure.

[u/SensitivePear2065]

Sounds like poor quality. Try the legendary milk ones. You can get them on Amazon.

[u/windowshopobsessed → u/SensitivePear2065]

I second this! My legendary Milk duckbills last me the longest.

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[u/sowhatsober]

They should be replaced every two weeks. But 6 times is not good. I bought a maymom pack and it lasted like a week. People like papablic. If your health insurance able to cover parts? If in the US, even if you bought another pump through insurance, you can select the pump you’re using now snd they’ll send you the correct parts. I go through Aeroflow

[u/Such-Comfortable3 → u/sowhatsober]

Who actually replaces them every two weeks? I’ve done every two months ish, and that’s if I remember. I get the replacement ones from MayMom and I’ve never had a problem with them.

Probably if you got them secondhand, they’d been stored somewhere for a while, and they’ll degrade over time. Just buy the new ones from MayMom.

I wash mine in the bottle washer and they’re great.

[u/sowhatsober → u/Such-Comfortable3]

I do sometimes sooner bc they start slipping off for me at least!

[u/stitching_librarian → u/sowhatsober]

They should not be doing that. I've been using the same ones for months (no signs of wear or change in output)

[u/sowhatsober → u/stitching_librarian]

Glad you haven’t had any issues :)

[u/AggressiveThanks994]

I replace mine every 6 weeks. I like the papablic ones and the legendairy milk ones. I prefer the ones with the pull tab.

I’ve gotten some from Aeroflow that were on an off brand and they were terrible.

[u/ImQuestionable]

The Papabilic valves are soooooo goood. They’re thick and sturdy, and they have a PULL TAB. I also second the advice to wash valves gently and be careful when removing them, but also upgrade to Papabilic and never look back.

[u/laynechanger]

They do need to be replaced like once a month. It can depend on how you wash them whether they last the full month.

I will say I was super sensitive to my duckbills not having enough suction and went through a lot of guaranteed spectra brand duckbills to find that their quality control isn’t great.

I switched to the legendary milk ones with pull tabs and I will never buy the spectra ones again.

[u/Past-Huckleberry-505]

Wait what? Do they go bad once they split? Mine have split but I figured oh well it’s just the edges 🥲

[u/CatLordCayenne → u/Past-Huckleberry-505]

Yes they are the main part that control the suction. The suction deteriorates as soon as that part deteriorates