Just like a car, your autoclave deserves routine maintenance that will keep it working perfectly today, tomorrow, and for years to come. So let's examine what this really means for labs looking to get the most out of their autoclaves.
Three Reasons Why You Need Autoclave Maintenance
Minimize downtime: When you're ready to run your load in an autoclave, you want it to work. Regular preventive maintenance will help catch any potential problems before they occur.
Maintenance Functions: Periodic inspections will pinpoint components that are wearing out or slowing down autoclave processing. Components may wear due to mineral deposits left behind by steam and water. In any autoclave, water is used to generate steam and to cool the waste water. During these processes, water (regardless of its quality) leaves varying amounts of salt and mineral deposits on the surfaces it contacts. These deposits can build up over time (such as delaminated paint) and can begin to impair autoclave steam generator productivity and function, and clog pipes, valves, and drains used to deliver and remove water. Purifying your water source won't eliminate the need for regular maintenance, but it's not a bad investment to consider: A water purification system, if you haven't already installed one.
Get Helpful Tips: Is Your Liquid Boiling? Are your packages wet? Regular visits by an autoclave technician can help troubleshoot problems and answer questions about your autoclave's special needs.
How to Care for an Autoclave: Do It Yourself
Proper maintenance of your autoclave depends on a balanced approach of self-service and professional service. If you're maintaining equipment at home, here are some steps you can take to keep your autoclave running smoothly:
daily:
Make sure the chamber drain screen (located in the front drain hole of the sterilizer) is completely free of debris. A clogged chamber drain filter will prevent the steriliser from sensing temperature. Here's a helpful video on how to clean your drain strainer.
Make sure to wipe up any spills in the autoclave chamber immediately with the reaction chamber cleaning solution and the included cleaning pad.
If your autoclave has a steam generator, it may have an automatic generator drain valve on it. If you hear your generator blowing off steam every day when you turn it off, it's one of them. If not, the generator should be drained manually at the end of each day (depending on water quality). This will help remove sediment and impurities from the water and keep the generator clean.
weekly:
Rinse the chamber with water or chamber cleaning solution. This is especially necessary if the saline solution is to be sterilized. Depending on the type of cargo being sanitized, the process chamber may also require periodic scrub cleaning (or other types).
Check the door gasket for pitting or warping. If you see any of these, it's probably time to replace it.
Check visually for water and/or steam leaks. If you find a leak, find the root cause and fix it as soon as possible.
NOTE: Each step should be checked against the manufacturer's recommendations.
How to Care for an Autoclave: Professional Services
Your autoclave should also be more efficiently inspected and cleaned by a trained service provider. The frequency of this service will vary based on your daily autoclave usage, but could range from once to more than four times a year. This service should include lubrication of parts and components, calibration of temperature and pressure sensors, cleaning of steam traps, inspection of heating elements, and replacement of worn parts (such as gaskets, relief valves, etc.) as needed.
