Washer disinfectors have become a critical component in infection control, whether that be in dental practices or sterile processing departments in large hospitals. These machines are much more than just a washing machine; they deliver a validated, repeatable process of thermal disinfection that eliminates the risk of human error and, in the process, protects both staff and patients.
The only slight fly in the ointment is that a washer disinfector is only as reliable as its last service. At Dekomed, we believe that our role in providing world-class decontamination equipment is only half of the process. The extra value we deliver lies in ensuring that the equipment operates at peak performance throughout its entire lifespan.
Why Regular Maintenance is Critical
A washer disinfector is a complex piece of engineering. It manages water pressure, chemical dosing, and precise temperature control—often reaching 90∘C or higher to ensure microbial inactivation. If any of these variables drift, the entire decontamination cycle is compromised.
Regular maintenance services from Dekomed engineers offer three primary benefits:
Patient Safety & Compliance: In the UK, adherence to HTM 01-01 (for medical devices) and HTM 01-05 (for dentistry) is mandatory. Professional servicing ensures your machine meets these stringent regulatory standards, providing the documented audit trails required during inspections.
Extended Equipment Lifespan: Like a high-performance vehicle, a washer disinfector faces wear and tear. Scale buildup, worn door seals, or blocked spray arms can force the machine to work harder, leading to premature component failure. Routine checks catch these issues before they develop into more serious and expensive problems.
Operational Efficiency: Anytime your equipment breaks down, it is never convenient. By having planned preventative maintenance, you are significantly reducing the risk of an emergency breakdown, which in turn ensures that your clinical workflow continues without any interruptions.
What a Dekomed Service Includes
Every service provided by a Dekomed-trained engineer involves a full and comprehensive top-to-bottom health check. All of our servicing packages are designed to be “class and market-leading” with a clear focus on mechanical integrity and the validation of the disinfection cycle.
Mechanical Integrity: Your engineer will inspect and clean the strainers, filters, and spray arm nozzles to ensure that the water is distributed effectively and efficiently during each wash cycle. We also check and verify the condition of door seals and gaskets to ensure that there are no leaks.
Calibration & Validation: Temperature checks – It is critical to ensure that not only is the machine heating to the correct temperature, but that it also stays at that temperature for the specified time. This is essential to ensure thermal disinfection.
Chemical Dosing Checks: We ensure that detergents and rinse aids are being dispensed in the exact quantities required for effective cleaning without leaving harmful residues
Software & Logic Updates: For our advanced models, we use the onboard service mode to check for any fault codes or logic errors that might indicate an underlying issue.
If you have a Dekomed washer disinfector installed, you already trust our brand and the benefits it delivers. Nobody knows and understands our equipment better than our Dekomed-trained engineers. In order to ensure proper maintenance and efficient cleaning of your surgical instruments, we believe you should use registered Dekomed-qualified engineers as your service provider.
To book annual servicing, which will ensure that you are fully compliant with all cleaning and disinfection processes, contact our friendly customer service team today on 0161 483 7333