How to replace tubing on a PTLevel

How to Replace Tubing

You may need to replace the tubing on your PTLevel transmitter if:

- there is water in your tubing
- there is bubbling in your tubing
- your tubing is damaged

Most of the time, you can just remove the tubing, drain and dry it, trim the ends, and reinstall the tubing.

You will need replacement tubing if the tubing is damaged (eg chewed on by a pet), brittle (our tubing is UV resistant, but the sun can still be very damaging over time), or you want to do some maintenance on your septic tank PTLevel and don't want to touch the existing tubing.

If you need replacement tubing, clamps, and bushings, you can contact us by putting in a support ticket. Replacement tubing costs $8 plus the cost of shipping. A replacement Pressure Chamber costs $15 plus the cost of shipping.

Read all about the tubing here.

- pliers for the clamp (we like to use flat nose pliers or slip joint pliers that have a flat nose)
- side cutters (not necessarily needed, but we like to use side cutters to help pry tubing off of the transmitter and pressure chamber)
- scissors or cutters (to trim the ends of the tubing after removing the tubing)
- gasket tack (or silicone or vaseline; for the outside of the barbs to help create an air-tight seal)
- lighter (to gently warm to the tubing before reinstalling it)


Water in tubing, circles in red

To remove the tubing:


1. First remove the clamp and bushing off of the transmitter.

We like to use some thin pliers or cutters to help pry the bushing away from the transmitter.
Be careful not to damage the barb.
Please note we are not even touching the white barb on the transmitter. We are just getting a little leverage behind the tubing and prying it away from the transmitter.
 


2. Remove the tubing from the Transmitter

We like to use thin pliers to help pry the tubing away from the enclosure.
Once the tubing moves a bit, you can pull it off by hand easily the rest of the way.
It is very important not to damage the barb during this process.
Please note we are not even touching the white barb on the transmitter. We are just getting a little leverage behind the tubing and prying it away from the transmitter.
   


3. Remove the tubing from the Pressure chamber

First unscrew the cap, and then the same way pry the tubing away from the pressure chamber carefully. 
Once it moves a little bit, it is easily pulled off by hand the rest of the way.
   


4. Prepare the tubing for reinstallation

If you are using your existing tubing, make sure to fully drain and dry it. We recommend using an air compressor to remove any water, then hanging it and leaving it to dry overnight.
If you are using replacement tubing, you're good to go to step 6.

5. If you are using existing tubing, trim the ends before installation.

Since the current ends have already been installed, they are a bit stretched out. Trim the stretched out ends off so when you reinstall the tubing it makes an air-tight seal.



6. Put gasket tack on the barbs.

Using gasket tack, vaseline, or silicone; put a tiny bit around the outside of the barbs. Make sure not to cover the hole.
The gasket tack (or other sealant) is going to help create an air-tight seal between the tubing and the barb.



7. Install the tubing on the Transmitter

We recommend using a lighter to warm the tubing gently before installing it, as it will make the tubing softer.
Push the tubing all the way onto the transmitter, then the bushing, and finish with installing the clamp.
  

8. Install the tubing on the Pressure Chamber

Make sure the cap is on the tubing.
Put gasket tack, vaseline, or silicone on the outside of the barb.
Warm the tubing to make it soft.

  


9. Thread the cap on to create a tight seal





The goal is to create an air-tight seal on all connection points. The PTLevel works by measuring the pressure of the air pocket that the water volume creates.