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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshoots visible leaks, chamber overfill, or water on the floor caused by doors, hoses, drains, loading, utilities, or service-level plumbing problems.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect Personnel and Remove the Washer From Use
Stop using the washer if active leakage, overfill, or water on the floor creates a slip, electrical, burn, or chemical hazard.
Keep staff clear of the affected area and follow facility procedures for spill control.
If water is approaching electrical equipment or power connections, do not touch wet electrical components.
Expected outcome: The area is safe and the washer is no longer being used while the leak source is unknown.
2. Identify When the Leak Occurs
Determine whether water appears during:
- Filling
- Washing
- Draining
- Thermal rinse
- Door opening
- Idle periods
Note the approximate location where water first becomes visible.
Expected outcome: The leak is associated with a cycle phase and general area, narrowing the likely external causes.
3. Inspect the Door and Seal Area
Check for:
- Debris on the sealing surface
- Load interference
- Visible seal damage
- Water tracking from the door perimeter
- Incomplete closure
Do not continue cycling a washer with a visibly damaged seal or unreliable lock.
Expected outcome: The door seals normally without visible obstruction. If an external obstruction is corrected and no leakage recurs during verification, troubleshooting can stop.
4. Inspect External Water Connections
Visually inspect accessible hoses, fittings, supply lines, and connections for:
- Drips
- Loose external connections
- Cracks
- Kinks
- Signs of recent movement
Do not tighten or disconnect pressurized connections unless qualified and authorized.
Expected outcome: No external water supply leak is present.
5. Inspect Drain Connections and Floor Drain Area
Look for:
- Drain backup
- Disconnected or damaged drain hose
- Water overflowing from a floor drain
- Slow building drainage
Coordinate with Facilities if the water source may be infrastructure rather than the washer itself.
Expected outcome: Facility drains and accessible washer drain connections are functioning normally. If Facilities resolves a drain backup and the washer remains dry during testing, stop troubleshooting.
6. Check the Chamber for Overfill
If safe, determine whether the chamber contains an abnormal amount of water before the leak occurs.
Do not continue running repeated cycles to observe an active overfill condition.
Expected outcome: Normal chamber fill is distinguished from a true overfill. A confirmed overfill requires service evaluation if no simple external cause is present.
7. Inspect Rack and Load Position
Verify nothing in the load is directing spray toward the door, blocking drainage, preventing closure, or interfering with internal water distribution.
Expected outcome: The rack and load are correctly positioned. If correcting the load eliminates leakage, complete a verification cycle and stop.
8. Perform a Controlled Verification Only if Safe
If the visible cause has been corrected and there is no electrical or chemical hazard, perform an approved test cycle while observing from a safe location.
Stop the cycle if leakage recurs.
Expected outcome: The complete cycle runs without leakage, overfill, or water accumulation on the floor. Only then may troubleshooting stop.
9. Escalate Repeated or Unexplained Leakage
If the source is internal, leakage recurs, overfill continues, or the source cannot be safely identified, stop external troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: The washer remains out of service pending qualified repair.
If the Problem Persists
Common external causes such as door obstruction, external hoses, drainage, facility infrastructure, rack position, and loading have been ruled out. The remaining issue may involve internal plumbing, water-level sensing, valves, circulation components, seals, drain controls, or another service-level condition.
The washer should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for repair or bench/service evaluation
- Evaluated using appropriate STERIS documentation and approved test equipment
- Repaired or configured only by qualified personnel
Any water exposure to electrical areas requires appropriate electrical safety inspection before return to service. Final testing must confirm normal filling, washing, draining, sealing, and absence of leakage through a complete cycle. Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Water on the floor around a washer-disinfector is both a processing concern and a personnel safety hazard; address the area hazard before investigating the equipment.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Sterile Processing reported water collecting on the floor in front of the Reliance 444 during wash cycles."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found debris on the lower door sealing surface preventing the door from sealing completely."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"The sealing surface was cleaned using the approved procedure, and a full verification cycle completed with no leakage or water accumulation."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Cycle phase when leak occurred
- First location where water appeared
- Door and seal condition
- Chamber water level
- External hose and fitting condition
- Drain and floor-drain status
- Rack and load position
- Evidence of electrical exposure
- Results of controlled verification
- Final device status
Final Thought
Treat leakage as a safety problem first. Identify the cycle phase and inspect doors, external plumbing, drains, loading, and facility infrastructure before assuming an internal failure. Persistent or unexplained water loss requires removal from service, qualified repair, and documented verification.
That is successful troubleshooting.