Air pump damage?

[Taiken5968]

Will it damage an air pump that has two outlets, if one is stopped up. I always plug up the outlet that I am not using.

 

[Fresh2o]

I would say yes. The back pressure will damage the valves and/or diaphragm. These can be replaced of course.
What you should do is get a Tee to join both outputs to a single line and then connect that to a 3 way or gang valve. That way you can open one value to supply air to the tank and another to to handle the excess air.

 

[Taiken5968]

I would say yes. The back pressure will damage the valves and/or diaphragm. These can be replaced of course.
What you should do is get a Tee to join both outputs to a single line and then connect that to a 3 way or gang valve. That way you can open one value to supply air to the tank and another to to handle the excess air.

That is a pretty good idea about the valve. The only reason I don't want to leave it open was that it was more noisy. I put a T in it and connected it, and it blew more bubbles than I would prefer.

I'll try that valve, and hopefully it won't make too much noise.

 

[Fresh2o]

Try the valve. If the open valve is still making too much noise then connect a length of airline to it and place the end in a sock to muffle the sound.

 

[Taiken5968]

Try the valve. If the open valve is still making too much noise then connect a length of airline to it and place the end in a sock to muffle the sound.

I have a long peace on of air line on the outlet I'm not using. It works pretty well.