Signs your Lab Water Purification System needs urgent servicing
In research and clinical laboratories, water is not just a convenience. It is the foundation for experiments, assays and sample preparation. Variable or compromised water quality can lead to invalid results, lost time and wasted samples. It can also threaten compliance with regulatory standards.
Lab water purification systems need to provide consistent high quality and reliable water. The greatest system becomes useless unless you adhere to proper maintenance procedures. The indications of problems are always easy to identify for those who understand what to search for. Detecting issues early prevents costly work disruptions and saves your projects from loss.
In this blog, you will discover the most common warning signs of when your lab water purification system needs servicing, and why you shouldn’t ignore these – as it may cost you your experiments, your compliance and your budget.
1. Water quality out of specification
An easy indicator that you are headed for trouble in the laboratory is when your purified water falls out of specification. ASTM, CLSI, ISO or whatever is your guiding star for purified water quality might find:
- Unexpected low resistivity or high conductivity results
- High TOC results
- High bacterial counts
- Visible contamination
Even small shifts can lead to issues in HPLC, PCR or cell culture work, for example. If your QC testing identifies problems, chances are that cartridges are spent, membranes are fouled, or a UV lamp is on its last legs. If so, service the unit without delay.
2. Slow dispensing or reduced flow
Lab workflows are built on quick access to pure water. A bench-top system dispensing more slowly than usual, or automated instruments that cannot draw the required volume, are clear indications of blocked filters, pump problems, or scale build-up inside the system.
Reduced flow not only slows down experiments, but stresses internal components, leading to more breakdown. A service engineer can clean, replace or recalibrate parts to restore normal operation.
3. Frequent system alarms or error codes
Many water purification systems used in the lab are equipped with advanced monitoring and alarm features. They are there for a reason: to prevent you from getting non-compliant water quality. Some of the most common alarm causes are:
- Filter or cartridge replacement needed
- TOC or conductivity out of range
- Tank overfilled, empty or leak detected
If you’re getting alarms more frequently, don’t ignore them. Every alarm is designed to protect you from system failure or non-compliant results.
4. Leaks, drips, or unusual noises
Laboratories must maintain their operations within safe and sanitary settings. A leak in tubing, fittings or a storage tank is an issue that needs to be dealt with promptly. Even small leaks can ruin sensitive equipment or contaminate.
Strange grinding or humming noises from pumps or fans may also indicate mechanical wear, or contamination. Fix these small problems before they result in a complete breakdown and no water for your lab.
5. Rising consumable or operating costs
Are you replacing cartridges or UV lamps more often than usual? Are you seeing an increase in energy usage? Your purification system may not be operating optimally.
A fouled pre-treatment filter, for instance, can make downstream filters run out prematurely, increasing consumable expenses. Professional service makes sure each stage of your system is functioning properly, helping you manage costs and ensure quality.
6. Variation in laboratory water demand
Sometimes your system is perfectly fine in terms of operation but may need a visit from a service engineer if your laboratory’s water demand has varied in any way. Have you added any new instruments? Doubled your sample throughput? Increased to new applications with tighter water purity requirements?
In that case, it is possible that your purification system may be operating under more strain than in the past. A service engineer can confirm capacity, suggest upgrades and confirm the system will continue to meet your needs.
Why immediate action matters in Labs
The bottom-line is don’t wait. If your laboratory water system is showing signs of stress, don’t wait to call for service. Allowing the problem to go unaddressed results in numerous serious consequences.
- Loss of data integrity – Lab results won’t be reproducible or repeatable if your water purity is not up to your expectations.
- Audits and accreditation challenges – Your water may need to be demonstrated to be of the quality to pass laboratory audits or accreditations.
- Lost production – Your experiments may have to be repeated leading to loss of time and productivity.
- Increased costs – Emergency service is always more expensive than routine service. Downtime is also a very costly event.
Professional servicing keeps your lab running safely
Professional servicing is more than just filter changes. A comprehensive laboratory service visit will usually involve:
- Measurement of water quality, pressures and flows.
- Inspection and replacement of consumables (filters, RO membranes, UV lamps)
- Testing of sensors, alarms and control panels
- Verification that the unit is operating within published specification
- Service documentation for audit purposes
The attention to this detail can make the difference between a system that runs, and one that fails to produce Type I, II or III water reliably at the appropriate purity levels required by your process, product, or application.
In the lab, the consequences are even higher and there is no room for error or compromise when it comes to the purity of your water. If you start to notice a drift in water quality, decreased flow rates, frequent alarms, leaks or costs that just seem to keep climbing, it’s time to hear what your system is trying to tell you.
Scheduled service protects your experiments, compliance and budget. Regular professional maintenance and your lab water purification system will be there for you throughout the course of your research, providing the high-quality water your science needs.
Lifetime support with Purite’s service and maintenance program
Our service and maintenance program includes system design, installation, commissioning, and on-going maintenance contracts. Whether it’s one benchtop unit in a lab, or multiple, high-volume purification systems in a lab or medical facility, our national team of engineers ensures systems operate at maximum efficiency to minimise risk of expensive downtime and maintain the purity and continuity you rely on.
Avoid the wait for performance to fail or emergencies to occur. Call Purite today to establish your custom service contract & keep your high-quality water purification uninterrupted when you need it most.
