Teeny Tiny
Member
Hi all! I just thought I'd share an idea that I had with you that works for me in case anyone is trying to find a pump and hold technique that is convenient and holds the pressure in the cups very well without fidgeting with clamps, or clips, or anything else. I've found that it is a lot easier snoogling this way as well. I used to use hair ties to hold the tubing folded, but they always popped off when I was sleeping and I'd wake up with the domes laying on the floor, and I could never figure out how to get the airlock that I got with mine to lock on and stay on so I threw it back in the box. They are much more pressurized this way, no air leakage whatsoever, as long as you can get a good seal in the first place. I'm attaching some pictures so that you can see what I've done.
Basically I've taken my large and XL domes and attached a small piece of tubing to them, then attached a 1/4" tubing elbow connector to that section of tubing, that way they angle downward and out of the way. From there I have attached another short piece of tubing with a check valve (one way air valve) attached to it. You can find check valves all over the place pretty cheap, hardware stores should carry them, but I know that you should be able to find them for sure at any pet store that sells aquarium supplies, and also at Walmart in the pet section with the aquarium supplies. For those of you that don't know anything about aquariums, their used in the airlines going to the air pump to keep water from being allowed to get into the pump and damage it if the power gets turned off to the air pump. Same thing applies with air, they'll let air out as you pump, but won't let it back in once you disconnect the pump. When I want to noogle I just attach the pump with another piece of hose (shown in picture #2), pump up to where I want it, then I just remove the pump with the hose attached to it, then do the second the same way. Just be careful not to over pump as they hold the pressure really well, however if you do over pump just slip the valve off the tubing and it will release the pressure. I find that they attach and detach really easily, but hold a good seal while they're attached. When I'm done I just set the pump aside, throw on a shirt big enough to fit over the domes and forget about them until it's time to take them off or top them off. However I am not having to top them off nearly as much using the check valves because they hold the pressure very well.
When I'm finished and want to take them off I simply slip the valves off, then put them back on after I take them off, or I just slip a fingertip under the outer edge of the domes to break the seal and pop them off. I like doing that when my hubby is in the room because it makes a farting sound and gets us both laughing almost every time. I like doing this method because it's so much easier than having all that extra tubing and pump hanging off of the domes. Makes being able to do other things like cooking, cleaning, using the computer, or just about anything else a lot easier without that extra baggage attached. However, if you prefer to leave the pump attached, you can always attach a single valve at the bottom section of tubing under the Y connector, or if you're using one dome at a time to the single line attached to the pump.
Hope this helps give some of you an idea of an easy, convenient way to pump and hold.
Basically I've taken my large and XL domes and attached a small piece of tubing to them, then attached a 1/4" tubing elbow connector to that section of tubing, that way they angle downward and out of the way. From there I have attached another short piece of tubing with a check valve (one way air valve) attached to it. You can find check valves all over the place pretty cheap, hardware stores should carry them, but I know that you should be able to find them for sure at any pet store that sells aquarium supplies, and also at Walmart in the pet section with the aquarium supplies. For those of you that don't know anything about aquariums, their used in the airlines going to the air pump to keep water from being allowed to get into the pump and damage it if the power gets turned off to the air pump. Same thing applies with air, they'll let air out as you pump, but won't let it back in once you disconnect the pump. When I want to noogle I just attach the pump with another piece of hose (shown in picture #2), pump up to where I want it, then I just remove the pump with the hose attached to it, then do the second the same way. Just be careful not to over pump as they hold the pressure really well, however if you do over pump just slip the valve off the tubing and it will release the pressure. I find that they attach and detach really easily, but hold a good seal while they're attached. When I'm done I just set the pump aside, throw on a shirt big enough to fit over the domes and forget about them until it's time to take them off or top them off. However I am not having to top them off nearly as much using the check valves because they hold the pressure very well.
When I'm finished and want to take them off I simply slip the valves off, then put them back on after I take them off, or I just slip a fingertip under the outer edge of the domes to break the seal and pop them off. I like doing that when my hubby is in the room because it makes a farting sound and gets us both laughing almost every time. I like doing this method because it's so much easier than having all that extra tubing and pump hanging off of the domes. Makes being able to do other things like cooking, cleaning, using the computer, or just about anything else a lot easier without that extra baggage attached. However, if you prefer to leave the pump attached, you can always attach a single valve at the bottom section of tubing under the Y connector, or if you're using one dome at a time to the single line attached to the pump.
Hope this helps give some of you an idea of an easy, convenient way to pump and hold.