Lab Equipment Breakdown? Here's How Professional Repair Services Can Help!

Summary

Engaging in regular lab equipment repair and maintenance services is a cost-effective way to keep your laboratory in good operational condition. It helps eliminate downtime, unnecessary costs, and safety concerns and assures the integrity of test results and measurements. Learn the common causes of lab equipment breakdowns and how to choose the right repair and maintenance service provider for your business.

Introduction

The condition of your laboratory equipment is vital. It needs to be correctly calibrated and functioning, as well as reliable. You can’t have a precious piece of equipment breakdown at the wrong time or any time. 

The cost of new equipment can eat up a significant portion of an operating budget, so it's essential to have a reliable lab equipment repair service. In this article, R&D Laboratory Equipment experts explore the common causes of equipment breakdowns and how professional Lab equipment repair services can help improve efficient and reliable operation.

Let’s begin.

Common Causes of Lab Equipment Breakdowns

Equipment breakdowns can be a major headache for any business, causing a loss of productivity, efficiency, and customer trust. There are various reasons for equipment breakdowns, and it is essential to understand and address these to prevent further and more expensive repairs. Here are the common causes of lab equipment failure:

1. Lack of Proper Maintenance

Proper maintenance is essential for efficient and reliable equipment performance. The lack of this maintenance creates problems, as issues that could have been discovered and fixed early can fester and become significant and costly.

2. Overloading and Misuse

Most lab equipment is designed for use in specific capacities and environments. When an operator goes beyond the equipment’s intended capacity or purposes, the equipment is one step away from eventual breakdown. Another contributing factor is the lack of proper training. When untrained or poorly trained staff handle lab equipment, the chances of the equipment breaking down due to poor handling increase.

3. Aging Equipment

Like all other equipment, lab equipment depreciates as it ages. Aging equipment is more prone to wear and tear, technical faults, and breakdowns.

4. Over-Maintenance

It seems counterintuitive that excess maintenance can cause equipment breakdowns, just as a lack of maintenance can. Over-maintenance can speed up equipment depreciation, as constantly disassembling and reconfiguring the equipment’s components can disrupt its operations and make it less effective.

5. Environmental Factors

Lab equipment are sensitive instruments and must be kept in cool and dry areas. Exposure to humidity, dust, and extreme temperatures can accelerate wear and tear on the equipment, eventually leading to contamination and breakdown in operation.

Importance of Professional Lab Equipment Repair Services

1. Keeps Equipment Accurate

Laboratory equipment generates precise measurements and data. Over time, however, it accumulates wear and tear and becomes less accurate. Professional equipment servicing helps the lab product maintain accuracy, ensuring reliability and data integrity.

2. Helps Prevent Accidents

Consistent use and aging can sometimes escalate minor wear and tear into significant problems. If minor damages to equipment are not discovered and treated early, the equipment can break or malfunction while in use, causing accidents and injuries to operators and nearby workers.

3. Helps Save Money on Replacements

Getting new equipment will make a massive dent in your budget, as will buying replacement parts for an old product. By scheduling regular professional lab equipment, you can reduce the damage your equipment takes from wear and tear. This will extend your equipment's lifespan and help you save money you would otherwise have spent on getting new equipment.

4. Ensures Compliance

Many laboratories are subject to regulatory and industrial requirements that compel them to regularly service their equipment as a measure of safety, quality, and competence. Lack of compliance can leave you facing legal and regulatory sanctions.

5. Helps Maintain Efficiency

Regular servicing catches problems before they become evident and ensures that your equipment is always in optimal working condition.

Key Lab Equipment That Often Requires Repairs

1. Microscopes

Microscopes require regular maintenance and cleaning to ensure clear images and accurate measurements, as blurry images due to dirty lenses can lead to inaccurate results.

2. Centrifuges

Always ensure that centrifuge tubes are balanced across from one another to prevent damage to the machine and cross-contamination of samples. Imbalances can lead to vibration noise and potentially damage the centrifuge rotor.

3. Pipettes

Regular maintenance and calibration are essential to ensure that pipettes deliver volumes accurately. 

4. Fume Hoods

Fume hoods require frequent inspection to ensure the airflow and filters work perfectly and protect lab personnel and operators. When they 

5. Balances

Calibrate equipment like analytical balances regularly to ensure precise weighing results. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for calibration or perform it after the equipment has been relocated.

How to Choose the Right Laboratory Equipment Repair Service

When it is time to choose a lab equipment repair service provider, you should consider the following:

1. Research and Ask for Referrals

When hiring a lab technician for your repair and maintenance services, don’t go for the first person you see. Instead, ask colleagues, peers, or industry associations for recommendations and referrals. Also, research the referrals focusing on the candidate’s expertise and experience, equipment certifications, response time and availability, and price or service cost. 

2. Check Credential and Certifications

When choosing a lab equipment maintenance partner, ensure they have the documents to support their expertise and services. Ask for certifications that show their membership in reputable organizations like the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA).

3. Evaluate Expertise and Experience

Choose a service provider with experience working on similar equipment to ensure your equipment is in good hands. A service provider who is an expert in fixing problems like yours and has numerous years of experience will be able to diagnose and repair your equipment quickly, reducing downtime and delays.

4. Check Availability

When choosing a lab equipment repair service, finding one that can respond quickly to an emergency is essential. Prioritize providers that not only offer quality repairs but also offer flexible scheduling and quick service.

5. Compare Pricing

While it might be tempting to choose the cheapest option, it is essential to compare the services offered and their prices. Low prices might indicate poor work quality and inexperienced technicians.

DIY Repairs vs. Professional Laboratory Equipment Repair

Hiring professional services for laboratory equipment repair and maintenance is always better. While DIY steps might help save costs, they also carry the risk of further damage, voiding warranties, and causing grievous injury. However, professional repair services benefit you from expertise, warranty preservation, peace of mind, and safety assurance.

Conclusion

Lab equipment repair and maintenance is an essential activity that helps enhance the efficiency and accuracy of your tests and experiments. It also extends the lifespan of instruments, helping you save money that would otherwise have been spent on buying replacement parts or manufacturing new equipment. If you’re having an unexpected lab equipment breakdown, contact R&D Laboratory Equipment for immediate assistance.

FAQs

1. What is the importance of maintaining laboratory equipment?

It delivers accurate and reliable results, extends equipment life, prevents equipment breakdowns and downtime, maintains equipment safety, and reduces the risk of accidents.

2. How often should laboratory equipment be serviced and maintained?

It is generally recommended that laboratory equipment be serviced annually or as the manufacturer recommends.

3. How can I ensure proper calibration of laboratory equipment?

Review the manufacturer’s instructions and establish a calibration schedule. You can also get a certified technician to ensure correct calibration.

4. What common issues arise with lab equipment, and how can they be addressed?

Common issues include maintenance, over-maintenance, aging equipment, lack of training, overloading, and environmental factors causing more wear and tear.

5. How can I prevent lab equipment breakdowns?

Preventing lab equipment breakdowns involves scheduling regular maintenance, training operators to use and handle the equipment properly, and following the manufacturer’s instructions, especially regarding usage and storage.

6. How can I find a qualified technician to service my lab equipment?

Do your research and ask colleagues, peers, and industry associations for connections. Also, prioritize expertise and experience, check availability and credentials, and verify and compare pricing.

7. How can I determine when it’s time to replace lab equipment?

The factors determining when to replace lab equipment include age, repair, maintenance record, efficiency, technological advancements, safety concerns, and compliance requirements.

8. What should I do if my lab equipment breaks down?

First, identify the problem and determine its urgency. Either way, it is always best to call your technician as soon as possible to prevent disruptions to your business.

9. Which is better, DIY or Professional repair services?

You are generally recommended to hire a professional lab equipment repair service for your repair and maintenance needs. This gives you peace of mind, settles safety concerns, and helps ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

10. Which lab equipment often requires repairs?

Pipettes, centrifuges, microscopes, biosafety cabinets, balances, and fume hoods are some of the most common equipment needing repairs.