Autoclave Repair Tips

If you’ve ever had to send your autoclave out for repairs then you know how expensive it can be.

You’ll have shipping costs both ways, you’ll have to rent a spare while yours is at the shop, then you’ll have to pay for the parts and labor.  Sometimes it’s cheaper just to chuck it out the back door and buy a new one.  The next time you have problems with your autoclave, don’t call the manufacturer.  Do this instead!

Read the manual:

You’d be surprised how many people open the box, set up the autoclave, and throw everything else away.  Each
manufacturer has different guidelines for using their equipment properly.

There’s usually a user’s manual in that box and it’s packed with important information.

There may not be anything wrong with your autoclave at all.  It might just be that you’re not using it right.

For example, if your spore test results came back negative, it may be that you’re not using enough time or heat for the type of metal
you’re trying to sterilize.

Or it could be something as simple as cleaning a filter to improve the pressure.  But you’ll never know if you don’t read the manual.

Do some research:  If the answer isn’t in the user’s manual, don’t give up.  Do some research on the problem.  This blog is packed with information on all
makes and models of autoclaves and we have troubleshooting advice on almost any problem you can imagine.

It’s also helpful to learn how your particular autoclave works so you can learn where different problems might originate.  Once you can identify the source of the problem, you’ll usually be surprised at how easy it is to fix.

And that’s not as complicated as it sounds.  You know what causes different problems when you’re talking about your car.

An autoclave is a lot less complicated than an automobile!

Fix it yourself:

That’s right – you can do a lot of your own autoclave repairs.  The hardest part about repairing these machines is identifying the part you need.
And you’ll usually be able to find that information right here on this blog.

So, the next time you’re thinking about sending that autoclave out for repair, fix it yourself instead.

When your autoclave breaks down, you have 3 choices to get it back up and running again:

1.You Can Pick Up The Phone & Call A Local Autoclave Repair Technician (if you have one)
2.You Can Box It Up & Send It Off For Repair
3.You Can Do The Autoclave Repair Yourself

Maybe the third option (doing the autoclave repair yourself) is something you have never considered…. for a variety of reasons,

It might be because you think it is too complicated, or you don’t know where to begin

Maybe you are afraid if you run into a problem, you have no where to turn for technical support, and if you do find support, they will charge you more than it would have cost for you to send it off for someone else to repair in the first place.

Or maybe you are afraid you will just screw it up and cause more damage than you started with

But with minimum charges for autoclave repair now approaching $2000.00 or more, repairing it yourself is quickly becoming the most viable option…and something you, or a member of your staff can do

First, let me dispel the autoclave repair myths, that it is complicated, sophisticated, and requires special tools and training.

In fact, most autoclave repairs consist mostly of simply replacing parts……..that is finding the defective part, and replacing it with a new one. And if you have a screwdriver and a couple of ordinary wrenches, then you probably already own the tools necessary to complete most autoclave repairs you will run into

With that being said, if you can turn a wrench & know how to use the screwdriver, you have the necessary skill set to complete most autoclave repairs

Autoclave repair really is just that simple. The “trick” is in knowing how to find the part(s) causing the problem(s) you are encountering. Also known as “Autoclave Troubleshooting”

Most Autoclave Troubleshooting is accomplished by determining the symptoms and simply following the path.

What?

Let me explain. Let’s say you are having a problem with water not filling the chamber like it is supposed to. No water in the autoclave chamber (or filling slowly) is the symptom. And now for the path…….

First, lets look at where the water starts ,and where it is supposed to end up. The water starts in the water reservoir and ends up in the autoclave chamber. The path the water takes to get there is through the tubing, with various parts and filters along the way. To troubleshoot the filling problem with the autoclave, you merely follow the path the water takes and find out where it is stopping

Once you know where it stops, you know which part to replace (or clean out)!

You can follow this same autoclave troubleshooting process for pretty much any problem you encounter with your autoclave

And, if you should run into a problem, or just need someone to walk you through things, there is now free autoclave repair technical support available.

Well, They Are Going To Put Us In A Movie……(Really, it’s just our Autoclave Parts that are going to be in the movie, but that’s good enough for us!)

Warner Brothers Studios Selected AllClaveParts To Provide Them With The High Quality Autoclave Parts They Needed For Their Upcoming Movie:

As described on MovieNewz.com “Contagion follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast-moving epidemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself…….”

Can You Guess What Part The Autoclave Plays?

We are very proud & thankful Warner Brothers chose AllClaveParts to furnish the High Quality Autoclave parts they needed for their production

And now I ask you, if the High Quality Autoclave Parts furnished by AllClaveParts was chosen to help fight a world-wide epidemic…..don’t you think they will be perfect for your environment?

AllClaveParts.Com

“Autoclave Repair Made Simple”

2 Things That Can Cause The Error Message “Service Needed” on Your Statim 2000 Autoclave.……You Can Fix Yourself.

What to do? Instead of getting the usual “Cycle Fault” or “Cassette Fault” and then an error code, you get the
message “Service Needed” on your Statim 2000 Autoclave

And the only thing you can find about this message any where, are instructions to contact your Staim Service Technician whose response is your Statim 2000 Autoclave will have to be returned to the factory for repair.

You are told the reason it must be returned to the factory is the components involved are not “Field Replaceable”

Here’s the thing. Once your Statim 2000 arrives at the factory, you will get an autoclave repair estimate of more than $2000.00,
plus shipping in both directions. And most likely this estimate will come with a recommendation for you to buy a new autoclave

But before you lay down all that money for either the repair or replacement (or before even shipping it off), it is definitely
worthwhile to have a look at your Statim 2000 for yourself.

While there are other possibilities, there are 2 things which can cause this error message, which you can fix yourself.
And these autoclave repairs are either free, or won’t cost you much more than just the shipping costs of sending your Statim 2000 out for repair

1. If the “Service Needed” error appears on your Statim 2000 autoclave as soon as the cycle button is pressed, and before
   pressing the “Start” button, it means you have a broken thermocouple. These thermocouples are now readily available
   for the Statim 2000 at AllClaveParts.com

   In keeping with the mantra of “Statim Autoclave Repair Made Simple,” step-by-step instructions follow the description
   of the thermocouple so you can see how easy it is to install…..before you buy the replacement thermocouple

2. But, if the “Service Needed” message appears after the start button is depressed and the cycle starts, it is indicative
   of a problem with the water pump.

   If you have the “Statim 2000 Pump Tester Kit,” testing the pump is very simple and easy to do. If you don’t have it, you
   should get one.

   • If the water pump tests good, then you need to “Reclaim The Boiler.” (Don’t let the term “Reclaim” intimidate you.
     It is a straight forward, simple procedure that won’t cost you a cent if you do it yourself)

     You can find the easy to follow step-by-step instructions for reclaiming the boiler on your Statim 2000 Autoclave here

   • On the other hand, if the Statim 2000 Water Pump test shows the pump is weak, it is indicative of the filters being clogged.

     And as long as your water pump has slide on terminal connectors, your Statim 2000 autoclave repair is simply a matter
     of cleaning the filters

     And here is where you can find simple, easy to follow, step-by-step instructions for cleaning the filters.

How To Isolate Leaks & Take Corrective Action on The Tuttnauer M, MK, and Valueclave Sterilizers.

If your Tuttnauer Autoclave is Leaking around the door, you will not be able to reach or maintain the proper temperature or pressure.


If not corrected, continued use of the Tuttnauer Autoclave in this condition puts additional stress on other components, and can lead to a host of other problems.

Worse yet, Sterilization Will Not Take Place

You can quickly determine if the problem is a faulty Door Gasket or the Door Bellows is a simple and straightforward procedure. This is something you can do on your own, No Autoclave Technician Needed.

Start by visually checking the Chamber Door Gasket for any steam leaks, hissing, or water bubbles at the Door Bellows.

If steam is leaking at the Tuttnauer door closing device, then rotate the Door Gasket 180° to see if the leak follows it.

If the leak follows the Door Gasket, then replace the Gasket. If the leak does not follow the Door Gasket, then replace the Door Bellows.

Tuttnauer recommends the Door Gasket be replaced every 12 months. When was the last time you replaced your Door Gasket?

Replacing the Door Bellows at the same time as the Door Gasket is considered to be a Tuttnauer Preventative Maintenance Routine Best Practice

Properly maintaining your Tuttnauer Autoclave can lead to many years of trouble free service and significantly increase its lifespan

Wally

www.AllClaveParts.com
“Tuttnauer Autoclave Repair Made Simple”