Medicine and the methods for fighting back against infection have come a long way over the centuries, and even as recently as the American Civil War, germ theory was unknown, and rates of infection due to battlefield surgery were so high that disease killed more men than gunfire. Fortunately, modern medicine and science have advanced to a high degree, and for any device that enters the human body, such as dentist equipment, surgical tools, and even tattoo needles, and autoclave will prevent diseases, viruses, and bacteria from infecting users and patients of the sterilized items. What is an autoclave, and how can one fix it? Repairing autoclaves and cleaning them is essential for workplace hygiene. Sterilizer repair is nothing to overlook.

The Work of an Autoclave

As explained on Tuttnauer, an autoclave is, put simply, a device that will sterilize items inside such as surgical knives and tattoo needles with high pressure steam. This device was in fact invented in the 19th century, in 1879 by Charles Chamberland. The functions of autoclave devices is as simple as that: use steam heated to 270 degrees Fahrenheit at 30 psi to eliminate contaminants inside. Before use, an autoclave is a vacuum inside to prevent contaminants from getting inside, and then the hot steam is issued. This is essential work because most known pathogens can live for an entire week on uncleaned objects such as surgical equipment and tattoo needles, necessitating the use of an autoclave and other sterilizing measures after one client uses them and before another does. Inside an autoclave, the steam is optimally composed of 3% moisture and 97% gas; with lower moisture, superheated steam needs more time to sterilize an item, and superheated, dry steam has a lower energy transfer rate. By contrast, steam with more than 3% moisture necessitate drying time afterwards, which also pads the total time needed to sterilize the items inside. Sometimes, this optimal ratio is difficult to achieve and steam quality may be affected by outside factors like weather and temperature, quality of the autoclave’s pipes and steam traps, and the drainage stations.

Repairing Autoclaves

Like any other industrial machine, an autoclave may wear out over time, faster if it was repaired badly or shoddily built, or if it is damaged or dropped. Repairing autoclaves is essential for any hospital, dentist’s office, or tattoo parlor to keep running with sterile equipment. After all, there are an estimated 21,000 tattoo parlors in the United States today, and roughly 4.5 million surgical procedures done annually. Sterilizer repair, then, is a must to keep those industries functioning within hygiene and safety standards. Repairing autoclaves can be as simple as hiring a professional mechanic who is knowledgeable of such devices, and this professional can be contacted through the autoclave’s manufacturer, as one example, or an Internet search can yield other mechanics who can handle the job.

Veterinarians may also have need for repairing autoclaves; like at a hospital for human patients, a vet’s office involves needles and surgical equipment for healing patients, in this case cats and dogs (and farm animals like horses) instead of people. An autoclave for veterinarians can keep animal patients healthy and safe from infection and malignant fungi, so a vet’s office can also call for autoclave repair.

One can purchase a new autoclave online or through a catalogue, and even searching for “autoclave eBay” can find products on sale for a good price, although buyers should exercise caution and ensure that the seller is offering an autoclave in good condition, and one that meets the buyer’s needs. If an autoclave is badly damaged or wears out completely, buying a new one can keep the business running.