When you order a breast pump, you almost always receive a manufacturer’s warranty, along with access to helpful support services that can resolve issues quickly and keep your pumping routine on track. The warranty information on breast pumps isn’t always intuitive to understand, however. Here’s a rundown of some of the more common concepts and what kind of support you can expect.
How to Understand Warranty Information & Services With Breast Pumps
General Information
Most breast pumps come with a warranty that protects you against manufacturing defects in the main components. The manufacturer will typically repair or replace the pump at no cost to you if the motor, wiring, or other essential parts fail, but only if they fail because of a factory issue. They won’t replace these things if they are damaged in everyday use or in an accident.
How long your pump is covered depends on the brand. The Unimom Opera includes a full three-year warranty on the pump itself, while Spectra models usually carry a two-year warranty on the motor with a shorter three-month warranty for accessories. Pumpables typically offers two years on the motor and ninety days on parts and cups. These terms will appear in the product descriptions when you buy and in more detail in the manual that ships with your pump.
Things That Aren’t Covered
Certain parts and certain situations aren’t covered under most standard warranties. Manufacturers typically classify flanges, valves, membranes, tubing, and collection bottles as consumable items, which means they’re expected to wear out naturally with regular use and cleaning. Since this is expected, it’s not covered: your coverage is only for defects. This means, for example, that if a valve splits or a membrane becomes stretched after weeks of daily pumping, you are expected to replace it yourself.
Accidental damage also falls outside the warranty. Dropping the pump, getting it excessively wet beyond what would be normal for cleaning, or using any non-approved accessories can all void the warranty entirely. The warranty is also voided if you use the pump in a way that’s not recommended, such as by running it without all parts assembled or with incompatible tubing. The best defense against having your warranty voided is reading the warranty section in your manual carefully so you understand all limits upfront.
Where You’ll Find the Terms
When your package arrives, open the box and look inside for the user manual or any separate warranty card. These documents will spell out the coverage period, what qualifies for coverage, what isn’t covered, and the steps you’ll have to go through if you need to file a claim. If you misplace your receipt, contact us at Breastpumps.com directly. Our team keeps records of every order and can email you a copy of your proof of purchase, which most manufacturers will require before they process anything.
You can also visit the manufacturer’s website and enter your pump’s model number or serial number to pull up the details of the warranty online. Saving the original box for the first several months is often wise because some brands ask for the serial number that’s printed on it.
Troubleshooting Issues With Your Pump
When your pump stops working correctly, think through and then take the following series of actions. These will help you identify the cause without putting any unnecessary stress on you, and if you have to call support, you’ll be able to walk them quickly through what you’ve already done.
Start by confirming that the power source is functioning properly and that the pump is fully charged (if it has a battery). If that’s all good, then inspect and replace any soft parts that are showing signs of wear, such as sticky valves or torn membranes. Sometimes this simple step restores normal suction immediately. If the problem continues, test some things by switching parts between the sides to see whether the issue follows a specific component.
Once you’ve done these steps, reach out to the manufacturer’s customer service line listed in your manual. Their representatives will usually then walk you through a few additional checks to check for some common issues they know of with their specific model, and often they can help you fix the issue or properly diagnose the trouble. If they confirm it sounds like there’s a warrantied defect, they’ll arrange for a repair or replacement.
At Breastpumps.com
We don’t issue the warranties, but our team plays a valuable supporting role for you. You can call them at 1-888-495-7491, use live chat on the website, or email referrals@breastpumps.com for help with your order. We can send you copies of receipts and direct you to the correct manufacturer contact. We can also answer questions about whether your insurance might help with replacement parts.
Also, many moms have original insurance benefits that include one or two sets of replacement parts during the first year. We can usually help you in accessing this coverage. You simply provide your insurance details, and we’ll check eligibility and handle much of the paperwork.
Avoiding Issues With Your Pump
Here’s a few simple, daily habits that’ll keep your pump running smoothly and protect your warranty:
- Replace duckbill valves and membranes every one to three months or as soon as they start to feel sticky or lose their seal
- Clean only the parts the manufacturer recommends for washing: never submerge electrical components
- Store the pump in a dry, dust-free place when you finish each session
- Always use genuine manufacturer-approved accessories (third-party substitutes can damage the motor and void coverage)
Filing Your Claim
If you do have issues and need to make a claim against your warranty, there’s a pretty predictable path you can follow. First, contact the manufacturer and describe the symptoms in detail, as covered above. Most will require that you go through this step before they’ll actually want you to return a pump. If that doesn’t fix it, they’ll typically ask you to provide the model number, serial number, and date of purchase. If they approve the claim, they’ll then supply you with specific return instructions and a shipping label, in most cases, though in some cases they may simply send you a replacement pump.
Whether you’re getting the pump fixed or replaced, you’ll eventually send the defective pump back, and they’ll ship the replacement or fixed pump back to you at no charge. The entire process rarely takes more than a week or two, though a lot depends on how fast the shipping happens. You can also always visit Breastpumps.com and talk to us about the process if you have questions or concerns.
Taking time to learn your pump’s warranty coverage and the support that’s available from the manufacturer (and available through us at Breastpumps.com!) takes away a lot of the uncertainty that can arise when equipment acts up. We know that new moms have enough on their plate, and we’re ready to help you move forward with as little stress and as few delays as possible. Reach out to us at Breastpumps.com any time you have a question. Our goal is to make the process of getting a pump and keeping it in good shape as simple as possible for Mom.