How to Take Apart a Soap Dispenser Pump & Repair?

One part of your family’s hygiene and health relies on the mini soap dispenser you own at home. For some folks, the part it plays is not small by any means.

Especially if you have kids in your house, these are more than helpful to keep them washing their hands often and easily. However, sometimes things break and the soap dispenser stops functioning.

If your soap dispenser not working it means you’ll either have to buy another one or find a way to fix it. Before you decide to go for the latter option, try some common kitchen sink soap dispenser repair tricks. Today, it’s going to be all about that!

How to Fix Soap Dispenser: Right Way to Take Apart.

This reliable tool staying right beside your kitchen sink only needs a simple finger pump to quickly dispense some soap. It has become a quite a handy accessory used by most families.

It can be annoying when one unfortunate morning you find out the pump is not working. It Most commonly, it is either that a spring is broken, or that there is a clog.

To make it function like normal again, you’ll first have to take apart the dispenser to investigate what the problem is. Just follow these simple tricks I’m about to discuss.

Disassembling the Dispenser

1. To disassemble the dispenser, you start with unscrewing pump part first. This is very simple and needs a minimal screwdriver matching your screw head.
2. Next, you apply a little bit of force and pull out the nozzle.
3. It’s time to use your entire body to control the pulling force for pulling off ring. Sorry to say, it’s quite sticky and tacky. You can use a good pair of gloves to keep your hands clean.
4. The soapy goop might be a reason for locking up dispenser. It needs a good amount of effort from your side.
5. Finally, it’s time to detach the middle part. Simply twist, pull and wiggle. At one point, it comes apart.
6. You’ll find a ball bearing at the very bottom of air chamber. This is a very important part to keep the dispenser working properly. So, store it carefully after dissembling the dispenser.

Fixing Soap Solidification (General Method)

• Start filling the basin with hot water. If you are using a farmhouse sink, use warm water to fill it. Add around one tablespoon of bleach into the water. You’ll use it to sanitize the pump.
• Now the pump should be attached to dispenser with screws. You need to unscrew them for gradually taking apart pump from dispenser.
• Let the detached pump soak inside warm water. Keep it that way for around fifteen minutes. After the time period of soaking it properly, let water drain out from sink.
• Now turn on the sink for some warm water to run. You need to hold the pump beneath running water. Do this for a couple of minutes.
• While holding it, you will push the nozzle several times. This will help any old soap to simply purge out from the pump. Once you see that clean water is squirting out, stop rinsing the pump.
• Now get a pipe cleaner. Use it for clearing away any logs that water failed to deal with. You simply need to insert the pipe into clear tubing of pump. Once again rinse the pump under water by pushing nozzle many times.
• The pump should be clean by now. Simply put it back to the dispenser. Make sure to tighten the screws securely so that it does not come out next time you use it. Avoid overtightening, however.

Pump Trigger Jammed.

In some cases, when you press the pump’s trigger it denies to low down or move at all. There could be a number of reasons behind such an occurrence.

There are certain types of dispensers that come with twisters’ top locking mechanism. This might be a reason for the trigger not reacting. So, make a quick check here to find out.

Also, the problem could be with spring of soap dispenser mechanism. A defect might have affected the system. You need to get access to spring in that case.

See if the spring is maintaining a proper alignment inside. If that’s not the problem, you have to buy a new pump.

Soap Not Discharging.

Sometimes the soap dispenser is completely full of liquid but still fails to discharge. Even when you press trigger, it does not come out the slightest.

This may be because of soap getting gathered inside the tube. You’ll have to unscrew the pump, in this case, to check inside.

Make sure the top is holding tube properly in place. Due to improper fittings, the tube could be resisting soap from coming out.

In a few cases, the main problem is a damaged tube. So, it eventually formed into a split or hole causing trouble. If that’s what you find then you’ll have to go for the tube or entire pump replacement.

Depressed Trigger Problem.

There are some cases, where the dispenser’s trigger stays lowered. It fails to come back to its original position once pressed.

Most of the time, this problem arises from spring damage inside mechanism. It could be a lack of tension within the spring. The reason can also be the spring getting stuck into an uncertain position.

You’ll need to unscrew the pump of dispenser and have a look at spring to find out. Bring back the actual tension into spring by pressing it a few times. If the tension is absolutely gone, you’ll have to replace this spring.

A Moving Pump

In this case, the pump of dispenser moves from its place when pressed. This is often due to improper installation.

The pump needs to be in a straight position for proper installation. It should be screwed tightly in that position. You need to unscrew the pump and get it back to right alignment.

If you are using a dispenser for liquid soap bottles, fit it in the casing properly. This should be enough to solve the problem.

Verdict

So, that’s how to take apart a soap dispenser pump and repair whatever problem you are facing. The main part here is figuring out what actual problem is misleading dispenser and creating trouble.

If it’s absolutely not possible to repair dispenser with minimal tricks, the ones I mentioned above, go for a replacement. But most of the time, a simple repairing regime is enough to get problems solved.

Good Luck!