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Manufacturer
Model
What This Guide Helps With
Addresses absent or unreliable detergent, chemistry, or steam delivery caused by depleted supplies, tubing, connections, facility utilities, or service-level dosing problems.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Load and Staff
Do not release loads from cycles in which required detergent, chemistry, or steam delivery was missing or uncertain.
Follow PPE and chemical-handling requirements when inspecting chemical supplies.
Expected outcome: Potentially inadequately processed loads are withheld and staff are protected from chemical exposure.
2. Confirm Which Supply Is Affected
Determine whether the complaint involves detergent, another approved chemistry, steam, or multiple supplies.
Record the cycle phase and any visible message, alarm, or absence of expected supply usage.
Expected outcome: The affected supply path is identified.
3. Verify Chemistry Quantity
Inspect the correct approved chemistry container and confirm that sufficient product is available.
Do not substitute an unapproved chemical or dilute a product to keep the washer operating.
Expected outcome: The required chemistry is present in sufficient quantity.
4. Inspect Pickup Tubing and External Connections
Check accessible chemical pickup tubing, container caps, fittings, and external connections for disconnection, kinking, pinching, cracking, or obvious leakage.
Confirm the pickup tube is actually positioned in the intended container.
Expected outcome: The chemistry supply path is correctly connected and unobstructed externally. If correcting the connection restores delivery, proceed to cycle verification and stop troubleshooting if successful.
5. Verify Correct Chemistry Identification
Confirm that the connected container is the intended approved product and that supply lines have not been inadvertently switched during container replacement or housekeeping.
Do not reconfigure dosing values without approved service documentation.
Expected outcome: The correct chemistry is connected to the correct supply path.
6. Verify Steam Utility Availability
For a steam-related complaint, confirm that the facility steam supply serving the washer is available and that accessible valves are in their normal operating positions.
Check whether other steam-fed equipment is affected.
Expected outcome: The facility steam source is available. Infrastructure problems are referred to Facilities.
7. Inspect for External Leaks
Look for detergent, chemical, condensate, or steam-related leakage around accessible supply connections and the surrounding equipment area.
If a hazardous chemical leak or uncontrolled steam release is present, remove the unit from service immediately.
Expected outcome: No unsafe external leakage is present.
8. Run an Approved Test Cycle
After correcting any external supply problem, run an approved test cycle and verify that the cycle progresses normally and that required supply delivery is no longer reported as missing.
Use only approved methods to confirm dosing or utility performance.
Expected outcome: The washer completes the test cycle without supply-related fault or interruption. If so, troubleshooting can stop.
9. Escalate Persistent Delivery Failure
If chemistry is available, tubing is connected correctly, steam is present, and the failure persists, stop external troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: Internal dosing, valve, pump, steam-control, sensing, or control issues are referred for qualified service.
If the Problem Persists
Common external causes have been ruled out. Remaining possibilities may involve internal dosing pumps, flow detection, valves, steam controls, internal tubing, control logic, or calibration/configuration that requires manufacturer-level procedures.
The washer should be:
- Removed from service.
- Labeled Out of Service.
- Sent for repair or service evaluation.
- Evaluated using applicable STERIS documentation and approved test equipment.
- Repaired, calibrated, or configured only by qualified personnel.
After corrective work, verify proper supply delivery and successful cycle performance before return to service.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
A cycle may appear otherwise normal even though required chemistry was not delivered, so supply problems must be treated as process failures.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Sterile Processing reported the Reliance Vision was not drawing detergent during wash cycles."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the detergent pickup tubing disconnected from the approved chemistry container."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering restored the external tubing connection and verified normal cycle operation and detergent supply usage during a test cycle."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Supply affected
- Chemistry product connected
- Container level
- Pickup tube position
- Tubing and fitting condition
- Evidence of leakage
- Steam availability
- Other equipment affected
- Cycle phase involved
- Results after correction
- Final test-cycle result
- Final device status
Final Thought
Supply-delivery problems should be approached from the container or facility source toward the washer. Confirm the correct product, connection, and utility before internal causes are considered, and verify the complete process after any correction.
That is successful troubleshooting.