As the person in charge of autoclave maintenance for your organization, you know how important proper procedures are.
Especially when it comes to autoclave maintenance and the replacement of certain parts on your vessel.
Whether you notice an issue during routine maintenance or a problem arises in your facility in-between, failing to follow protocol can result in increased downtime.
Keep production running smoothly and continue hitting your organization’s productivity goals by paying close attention to proper autoclave maintenance procedures.
We’ll start with O-Ring replacement and then talk about some general information regarding replacement parts for your autoclave.
Here’s what you need to know.
Follow these instructions to safely and efficiently replace your autoclave door’s O-Ring.
Carefully pull out the O-Ring that’s worn from the groove that it sits in.
If there’s any accumulation of debris, it needs to be removed before the new gasket is installed. The residue can be removed with a flathead screwdriver or a small putty knife ONLY. If the debris can’t be removed with either of these tools, you’ll need to get in touch with Tank Fab for help.
Side Note:
Be careful not to gouge the door’s sealing faces or the groove’s face. If this happens, the door won’t be able to seal properly, resulting in damage to the equipment or injury. For this reason, the groove should only be cleaned by autoclave maintenance personnel who know what they’re doing.
It’s recommended that you lubricate the O-Ring with grease that is compatible with the gasket’s material.
Follow this order for putting the O-Ring in place:
Make sure the four sides are evenly spaced and be careful not to twist the O-Ring.
You can use a hammer or a mallet with a soft face to push the gasket into the groove.
A dovetail gasket groove holds the O-Ring in place. Continue to install the O-Ring evenly into the groove, being careful not to twist or stretch it.
O-Ring removal for reuseIf the new O-Ring will need to be removed and will be reused, you should use an O-Ring pick tool to remove the gasket without gouging it or otherwise causing damage.
Side Note:
Your autoclave’s new O-Ring may have to go through a few pressurization/depressurization cycles before the O-Ring is situated properly.
Ending up with the wrong replacement parts can cause needless delays.
To make sure you’re getting the correct components for your autoclave, contact Tank Fab and be ready to supply the autoclave manufacturer’s serial number or the job number.
Tank Fab will also keep this information on file for you so that you can order the correct parts in the future.
If your regular autoclave maintenance routine reveals that the door wedge needs to be replaced, don’t ignore the problem.
Using an incorrect size door wedge – or one that’s made from the wrong material – can have disastrous results when the autoclave is under pressure.
To get the most out of your vessel – and to do so safely – it’s imperative that you follow the correct autoclave maintenance guidelines.
These instructions will help you replace your autoclave door’s O-ring correctly so that you don’t experience a lag in production or unnecessary delays in your processes.
Contact Tank Fab for all of your autoclave maintenance needs.
