How to Fix a Leaking Flex Farm Tank Drainage Connection

Updated

A slow leak where the elbow fitting enters the back of the tank is likely a manufacturing defect in the seal. Contact us at 877-886-7736 or support@forkfarms.com to start a warranty order, then follow the steps for your purchase date below.

How to Identify the Issue

Water is slowly leaking from the seal where the elbow fitting enters the back of the tanks.

What is Happening?

This is likely a manufacturing defect in the seal connecting the Flex Farm Tank to the Drainage Valve Assembly. Please contact us at 877-886-7736 or support@forkfarms.com to start a warranty order. Have a photo or video of the leak and your purchase date ready.

Prevention Steps

This is a manufacturing defect. Submitting warranty claims helps us improve our quality assurance and product improvement processes.

Resolution Steps

For Flex Farms purchased after March 2024:

  1. Fully Drain your Flex Farm (See Water Refresh Video for draining best practices).
  2. Unclip your drainage valve assembly from your Flex Farm Tanks: Assembly Manual Video.
  3. Remove the tank adapter fitting from the back of the tank. You will need a wrench for this.
  4. Check to see if your adapter has a black o-ring near the mouth of the tank adapter. You should have the o-ring. If not, please send a photo.
    • Example of the black o-ring:
      Black o-ring seated at the mouth of the Flex Farm tank adapter
  5. Remove the original plumber's tape from the adapter.
  6. Apply 7 new, uniform wraps of the new plumber's tape going clockwise on the adapter threads. All threading should be covered.
  7. Follow this 12-second video to tighten the adapter all the way back in with a wrench. The adapter should be flush with the tank.
  8. Repeat steps 3-7 on the other tank adapter if the other tank is also leaking.
  9. Double-click your drainage valve assembly back onto your Flex Farm tanks by following the Assembly Manual Video. Ensure the grey elbows are fully seated and flush against the adapter. You should hear two clicks as you slide the blue clips toward the tank to lock the elbows in place. A slight tug will confirm that the elbows are securely locked onto the adapter.
  10. Refill your tanks with water.

For Flex Farms purchased between November 2023 and March 2024:

Follow the steps for Flex Farms purchased between March 2023 and October 2023 below. After step 5 (removing the tank adapter), also do this:

Clean the silicone residue off the adapter threads and spinweld threads (the threaded hole the adapter part screws into). You can do so by running a plant space brush/bottle brush through the spinweld to clean those threads off. Please don't worry about getting all the silicone out, leaving a small bit behind is okay.

For Flex Farms purchased between March 2023 and October 2023:

  1. Fully Drain your Flex Farm (See Water Refresh Video for draining best practices)
  2. Remove the Tank Filters by untightening
  3. Retighten the Tank Filters 2 full rotations only. So you only need to rotate the Filter Screen fully twice, if you rotate them further your Flex Farm adapter could still leak. This is important so you can fully tighten the adapter from the back of the Flex Farm. 
  4. Unclip your Drainage Valve Assembly from your Flex Farm Tanks.
  5. Untighten the back tank adapter remove from the tank(s).
  6. Remove the old plumber’s (PTFE) tape and apply 3-4 uniform wraps of plumber’s (PTFE) tape going clockwise on the adapter threads.
  7. Follow this 12-second video to hand-tighten the tank adapter. 
  8. Double-click your Drainage Valve Assembly back onto your Flex Farm Tanks. 
  9. Refill your Flex Farm tanks with water. This should resolve the leak from the Flex Farm. If it does not, send us a new video of the leak and we will help you resolve it.

For Flex Farms purchased before March 2023:

  1. Send a picture or video of the leak to support@forkfarms.com.
  2. While the warranty order is being processed, you will receive a replacement Tank & Lid with a return label for the defective tank.
  3. Important: You must remove the knobs from your old tank lid before returning it. Keep the drain valve that connects your two tanks.
  4. If the leak is minimal, you can place a nursery tray underneath to catch the water and empty it daily. If the leak is fast, you may need to drain the system.
  5. To perform the tank swap, drain your Flex Farm, disconnect the tubing from the back T-valve, and reassemble the farm with the new tank.

Field Fix Instructions (Parts Replacement):

  1. Fully drain the tanks.
  2. Remove the clamp on the tubing connected to the leaking tank.
  3. Remove the tubing from the elbow fitting.
  4. Work the threaded elbow out of the tank and remove the old top hat grommet. You can use a rubber mallet to tap it out from inside the tank.
  5. Lubricate the inside of the new top hat grommet with a food-safe lubricant (e.g., coconut oil).
  6. Place the new grommet in the hole, with the "hat" on the outside of the tank.
  7. Force the threaded elbow into the hole, ensuring it enters straight. Use the palm of your hand or gentle taps with a rubber mallet.
  8. The elbow is fully inserted when the rim of the top hat grommet is flush with the tank wall.
  9. Reattach the tubing and the clamp.