Is Your Autoclave Trying to Tell You Something?
- Durham Autoclaves
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Let’s be honest, autoclaves don’t come with flashing neon signs when they’re struggling.
But they do give off clues and ignoring those clues can result in small issues turning into full-blown breakdowns, right when you need your machine most.
At Durham Autoclaves, we’ve been servicing machines long enough to know the early warning signs.
If any of the below sound familiar, it might be time for a professional service.
1. It’s Slowing You Down
If your cycles are suddenly dragging out longer than usual, it’s not just frustrating, it could be a sign that your autoclave’s internal systems aren’t working as they should. Worn components, sensors starting to fail, or pressure issues can all be culprits.
Your time is valuable.
If your machine is taking more of it than usual, it’s worth looking into.
2. Things Are Coming Out… Damp
After a cycle, your instruments should be clean, dry and ready to go.
If they’re wet, it’s often a sign of something going wrong in the drying phase, possibly blocked filters, failing heaters or a build-up of debris.
It might not feel urgent, but it could be compromising the effectiveness of your sterilisation process.
That’s not a risk worth taking.
3. You’re Seeing More Alarms or Error Codes
Nobody loves a flashing warning light.
If your autoclave is constantly beeping or showing the same error messages, it’s not being dramatic, it’s asking for help!
Recurring alarms usually mean there’s a consistent fault in pressure, heat, or timing.
The longer you ignore it, the more damage it can do, and let’s face it, error messages never resolve themselves.
4. Something Smells… Off
If you’ve noticed any strange smells, burning, chemical, or just plain “not right”, or odd noises coming from your machine, don’t dismiss them.
Unusual smells and sounds can mean steam leaks, electrical faults, or internal components on their way out.
Even if the machine seems to be running fine, these little red flags are worth checking out.
5. It’s Been Over a Year Since Your Last Service
This one’s simple!
If it’s been 12 months or more since your last autoclave service, you’re due.
Regular servicing keeps everything running as it should, catches issues early, and keeps you compliant with health and safety regulations.
Annual checks aren’t just a nice idea, they’re a requirement, especially in medical and dental environments.
What You Can Do About It
You don’t have to wait until something breaks to take action.
At Durham Autoclaves, we offer friendly, professional servicing and repairs.
Whether it’s a one-off fix or regular maintenance, we’re here to keep your sterilisation process running smoothly, and your downtime to a minimum.
We pride ourselves on fast response times, clear advice, and engineers who genuinely care about keeping your equipment in great condition.
Ready to Book a Service?
If your autoclave’s been showing any of the signs above, or if you just want peace of mind,give us a call.
We’ll check everything over, make sure it’s performing as it should, and let you know if anything needs attention.
Contact us to get your machine back to its best.
01977 680 290