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What This Guide Helps With
Helps troubleshoot poor cleaning performance caused by loading, spray arm blockage, water, detergent, filters, or cycle setup issues.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
Confirm the washer-disinfector is not actively processing a critical load needed for patient care. Do not interrupt a cycle unless directed by facility procedure or if there is a safety concern.
Expected outcome: The unit is safe to inspect and no instruments are needed for immediate clinical use.
Verify the Reported Cleaning Issue
Ask staff what was found: visible soil, spotting, residue, wet instruments, blocked spray arms, failed cycle, or repeated poor results. Check whether the issue affects every load or only certain trays.
Expected outcome: The complaint is confirmed and narrowed to a specific symptom or load type.
Remove Affected Instruments From Clinical Use
Any instruments that are still visibly soiled should be treated as not properly processed. Follow sterile processing policy for reprocessing.
Expected outcome: Questionable instruments are not released for patient use.
Check for Improper Loading
Inspect the rack, trays, basins, containers, and instrument positioning. Look for overloaded racks, nested bowls, blocked lumens, instruments stacked too tightly, or items covering spray paths.
Expected outcome: Spray arms and water flow paths are unobstructed. If improper loading caused the issue, correct the loading practice, rerun the load, document findings, and stop.
Inspect Spray Arms for Blockage or Restricted Movement
With the unit safe and cool, check that spray arms rotate freely and that spray holes are not blocked by debris, labels, tape, instrument fragments, or mineral buildup.
Expected outcome: Spray arms spin freely and openings are clear. If debris is removed and performance returns to normal, document the correction and stop.
Confirm Racks and Accessories Are Seated Correctly
Make sure the wash rack, manifold connections, injection ports, and any specialty rack connections are fully seated and aligned. A poorly connected rack can cause weak spray or missed instrument channels.
Expected outcome: Water delivery connections are properly engaged.
Check Chamber Screens, Strainers, and Filters
Inspect accessible debris screens or chamber filters according to facility procedure. Look for tissue, bone fragments, wrappers, tape, labels, glass, or instrument pieces.
Expected outcome: Filters are clean and properly installed. If clogged filters caused poor wash action, clean or replace per policy, run a test cycle, document, and stop.
Verify the Correct Cycle Was Selected
Confirm staff used the proper cycle for the instrument type and soil level. A light cycle, incorrect rack configuration, or wrong program can leave instruments soiled.
Expected outcome: Cycle selection matches the load and facility reprocessing procedure.
Check Detergent and Chemical Supply
Verify detergent containers are not empty, expired, crystallized, diluted incorrectly, or connected to the wrong pickup line. Inspect chemical pickup tubing for kinks, air leaks, loose caps, clogged strainers, or disconnected tubing.
Expected outcome: The washer has the correct chemicals available and can draw them properly.
Look for Detergent Dosing Alarms or Chemical Delivery Clues
Review the display, cycle record, or staff report for dosing warnings, low chemical messages, or repeated poor results after a chemical change.
Expected outcome: No chemical delivery issue is present. If chemical supply or pickup tubing was the cause, correct it, rerun a test load, document, and stop.
Check Water Supply and Visible Water Fill Behavior
Confirm facility water supply valves are open and that no recent plumbing work, low pressure event, or water quality issue has occurred. If safe and allowed, observe whether the chamber appears to fill and spray normally during a test cycle.
Expected outcome: Water supply appears normal with no obvious fill or spray weakness.
Check for Blocked Drain or Standing Water
Look for standing water, slow draining, debris at the drain screen, or staff reports of water left in the chamber. Poor drainage can redeposit soil onto instruments.
Expected outcome: Chamber drains normally and does not leave soil-contaminated water behind.
Inspect Door Gasket and Chamber Condition
Check for visible soil buildup, damaged gasket areas, loose debris, excessive residue, or foreign material inside the chamber.
Expected outcome: Chamber and gasket are clean enough to support proper wash performance.
Run an Empty or Test Cycle if Facility Procedure Allows
Use an appropriate test cycle or washer performance test according to sterile processing policy. Observe for abnormal spray sound, weak pump noise, no chemical draw, leaks, alarms, or cycle interruption.
Expected outcome: Unit completes the cycle normally with expected wash action.
Do Not Adjust Internal Pump, Dosing, Temperature, or Control Settings Without Proper Authorization
If the unit appears to have weak circulation, failed dosing, temperature problems, or repeated poor results after external checks, stop troubleshooting and escalate.
Expected outcome: Clinical Engineering avoids unauthorized internal adjustment and protects device reliability.
If the Problem Persists
If poor wash results continue after loading, spray arms, filters, chemicals, water supply, drainage, and cycle selection have been checked, common external causes have been ruled out. The issue may involve internal circulation, dosing, heating, sensors, valves, or control problems.
The washer-disinfector should be removed from service, labeled Out of Service, and sent for repair or bench evaluation. Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting, especially when instrument reprocessing quality may affect patient safety.
Clinical Use Tip
Do not troubleshoot washer-disinfector performance while instruments are being processed for immediate clinical use. If a load is questionable, remove the affected instruments from the sterile workflow, notify sterile processing leadership, and use another validated washer-disinfector until the issue is resolved. Therapy and procedure continuity depend on safe backup equipment and properly reprocessed instruments.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Sterile processing reported poor wash results on the Belimed WD 200 Series with instruments still visibly soiled after cycle completion."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Found debris blocking spray arm openings and a partially clogged chamber filter, reducing wash coverage during the cycle."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Cleared spray arm blockage, cleaned accessible chamber filter, verified rack seating, and completed a test cycle with normal spray action observed."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Whether the issue affected one load or multiple loads
- Type of instruments or trays involved
- Cycle selected
- Rack or accessory used
- Spray arms checked for free rotation
- Spray arm holes inspected for debris
- Chamber filter or screen condition
- Detergent and chemical levels verified
- Chemical pickup tubing checked
- Drain behavior observed
- Any alarms or cycle messages
- Visible residue, unusual odor, or standing water
- Power behavior during the cycle
- Environmental factors such as recent plumbing work, low water pressure, or water quality concerns
- Indicator lights or display messages observed
- Final device status: returned to service or removed from service
Final Thought
Poor washer-disinfector performance should be handled carefully because the result affects instrument cleanliness and patient safety. Start with loading, spray path, filters, chemicals, water, and drainage before assuming an internal failure. If the unit still does not clean properly, remove it from service and document the complaint, cause, and resolution clearly.
That is successful troubleshooting.