FYI-  Several sellers on e-bay have been posting items for sale that need new chambers. The price on these units has started out low. The low price attracts a lot of bidders. Here is what you may not know. These chambers are only available through the Tuttnauer USA Dealer Network. Chambers have to be installed at Tuttnauer USA. A dealer cannot buy a new chamber and install it themselves. This is due to liability and certification requirements. An autoclave chamber is certified as a boiler. When you replace a chamber the new one has to be tested. This is only done at the manufacturer level.

                                                                         A new Tuttnauer chamber Lists for $805.00  (7" x 13") Installation and testing can run anywhere between 4- 6 hours at $70.00+ an hour. Also, it is suggested that new heaters be installed at the same time (3 x$105.00ea Minimum). This does not include any other parts or preventative maintenance that may be due at the time.

                                                                         When all is said and done- it is cheaper and more economical to purchase a new autoclave. A new Tuttnauer ValueKlave can be purchased for $1672.00. (base model 7" x 13" chamber)

                                                                         Chambers and heaters are the most important components of any autoclave. Remember they heat up to 273 degrees and cool back down to room temperature. This constant expanding and contracting wears out the heaters and stresses the metal in the chamber over time. The result is a chamber with stress cracks. Now a damaged chamber will still turn out sterilized loads but at 30 psi the chamber is trying to push water,heat and steam out of the crack. A crack above a metal clad heater will leak until it rusts through the heater and shorts it out. Also, improperly tightened heaters or loose heaters can lead to a damaged chamber by warping it from over heating. This leads to premature heater failure. Replacing a new banded heater over a bump in the chamber significantly reduces its life expectancy.

                                                                         Another point to concider, a lot of sellers are not service dealers. They do not know how to properly test an autoclaves function. Just because an autoclave powers on, heats up and finishes a cycle does not mean it is running ok or for that matter in good mechanical shape. As stated above, an autoclave can run with a cracked chamber. But for how long? An autoclave can run with a damaged heater but it will take the unit longer to heat up and cold spots could be present. Not good for your patients health and well being.

                                                                        As a practitioner you need to have a good reliable autoclave. Truth be told- you cannot properly operate your business without one. Technically, every office should have a second autoclave. Buying an older used autoclave is not always the best option. A good alternative would be to buy a brand new unit and have your current model refurbished. This way you have a new reliable autoclave and a back up autoclave that is familiar to you. (meaning it's repair history etc...)

                                                                       Please feel free to contact us at BaySide Technical Services ( e-bay user- bayside1) with any autoclave questions. We would be more than happy to help you.  bayside.tech@verizon.net