What to Look for When Buying an Autoclave
We’ve been focusing on more specific areas in sterilization with our content recently. But today we’d like to step back and broaden the scope a bit more. When we’ve compared autoclaves in ways to help you meet your needs, we’ve often compared two or more specific units to detail specs. But that isn’t how the search starts. When buying an autoclave you’re looking for certain qualities that can properly suit the kind of machine you need both inside and out. You need to not only look at what it can do, but how much space it takes up too. Or what jobs it can handle. How long it’ll take to handle said jobs. And it can especially come down to what type of autoclave you need.
What You Need To Look For
You might be wondering what an autoclave is, or what it does for you. An autoclave is a device that uses steam pressure and heat to sterilize equipment and instruments. This steam method is used in various ways with the innovation of different classes of autoclaves. Things like gravity autoclaves, pre and post vacuum cycle autoclaves, the like. And we even have ultrasonic cleaning technology as well. They’re used in hospitals and other medical facilities to sterilize tools and instruments that are used on patients. They’re also used in laboratories and other places where sterilization is of the utmost importance.
Preventing contamination and maintaining the safety of both staff and patients is key. Autoclaves have only become faster and more reliable as years go by. And the ability to fully sterilize and decontaminate tools can be done within the time of your first patient leaving to your next patient walking in. But when it comes to shopping for your practice, there are some factors when you shop. You need to make sure that the autoclave you buy is just what you need, and we’ve got some tips to help you out.
Here are some things to look out for when buying an autoclave:
1) Size
How big is the space that you have? If there’s not enough room for it then you may want to consider buying a smaller one or getting something else altogether. Autoclaves can vary greatly in size depending on what kind of autoclave you look at. Some are tabletop size, some are meant to be tucked away and non-intrusive. And others are full on machines that probably need more than one person to move. Depending on the space you have available, you’ll want to pay attention to the dimensions of the machines you look at.
2) Price
Of course, price is important in any purchase. But it doesn’t always mean that the cheapest one is always best. If you want something that lasts longer than others, sometimes that higher price tag isn’t there to dissuade you. Price isn’t just varied based on things like new or used machines. But sometimes if you want the best, it’ll cost you a bit more. As technology advances and these machines get more capable of doing their job, a higher price isn’t surprising. Think of the kinds of advancements we have now. For example, StatClave’s G4 technology allows for remote connections over wifi for seamless data transfer and instant access to anything you need from the machine.
3) Ease of Use
Are there any features that make using this easier than another? For example, do they have buttons that light up so you can see them better? Or do they come with a remote control so you don’t have to go over every time something needs changing or adjusting? Nowadays, ease of access is paramount to some major companies producing autoclaves. So there’s no shortage of user friendly machines for you to choose from.
4) Warranty
How long does their warranty last? If there’s nothing wrong with your product but something happens to it within a year, how does the company handle it? Do they replace it or give you money back if needed? These are all things that are important when deciding which product is right for you. Especially for machines that can cost as much as these, and that have such high importance. You need to know that all of your bases are covered when making an investment like this.
5) Customer Service
Is the company easy to contact? Do they have a phone number or email address you can reach them at? If there’s a problem with your product, do they respond quickly or make you wait days for an answer? Transparency is important for anything, especially in a situation like this. So your machine goes down on a busy time and you need help right then and there. You don’t want to be left in the dark when you need help the most.
Ensure that wherever you decide to buy your autoclave from, that the customer service works. Make sure you can get the help you need when you need it. And that the company’s idea of “help” isn’t just referring you to a pamphlet or manual. You need customer service you can trust.
Final Thoughts
Buying an autoclave is a process that you can’t just skim over and hope you pick correctly. It requires you to look into many different factors that can affect your decision, since it is a pretty big decision. Size, price, user friendliness, warranty, customer service. Those are a few of the more important notes to look at when buying an autoclave. You need to know that the product you paid that much for can work for you and be worked on properly and in a timely manner should the need arise. And what options you have when it comes to extending the longevity of your unit while getting answers to the questions you need. We hope our guide is helpful to you, and we hope you find what you’re looking for.
As always if you have any questions about this process or anything else please feel free to contact us and take advantage of our “FREE TECH SUPPORT.”
We also offer FREE VIRTUAL TECH SUPPORT to “See and Talk” with a “Real Time Live Technician” for any problems you may be in need of help with.
You can also use our “FREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM”. Take the guesswork and worrying about what unit is due for maintenance and which maintenance cycle it is time for. We will keep track of all your autoclaves and let you know when it’s time for anything.