The maintenance of laboratory equipment is very crucial. It needs to stay in proper condition to deliver accurate and quality results. Lack of maintenance may contaminate the equipment and temper with the readings. Moreover, laboratory equipment is an expensive asset. It makes more sense to maintain it than let it deteriorate only to invest in a new one.
Here are useful tips for taking care of your science equipment:
Cleaning
The equipment gathers dust and grime with regular usage. It is necessary to wipe the exteriors of equipment with a clean cloth every day. Once in a week or every fortnight, you should do the thorough cleaning of the equipment from inside out. In fact, it is advisable to follow the cleaning guidelines that come with the instruction manual of every type of equipment. Most instruction manuals mention the type of cloth material, chemicals and liquid which need to be used for cleaning. This ensures that the equipment does not get damaged during the cleaning process. Examples – microscope lens is cleaned with optical wipes or kimwipes and glassware are rinsed with approved solvents.
Repairs
With routine wear and tear, it is natural for the science lab equipment to break down in parts or entirety. Your first thought it to replace it because you don’t want to take a chance with inaccurate results. However, some parts are easily replaceable. So, instead of spending money on buying new equipment, see if you can get it repaired. Sometimes, small repairs can save the entire equipment from full replacement and elongate its functional life. Also, make sure that you buy only original parts from authorized dealers to avoid cheap quality.
Refurbishing
Refurbishing is a process where all pieces of laboratory equipment are dismantled to clean each part thoroughly and polish and/or lubricate them if required. Refurbishing should be undertaken at regular intervals. The parts are then reassembled to get the equipment in working condition as a new piece.
Calibration
Calibration is a preventive maintenance process which measures the output of quality of equipment with the industry standards. It is important that this quality is at par with industry benchmarks so that functionality and accuracy of results are accurate at any given point in time. If calibration is undertaken regularly, it will save a lot of time and money for the laboratory.
Buy High-Quality Equipment from Reputed Buyers
You may have a specified budget, but that doesn’t mean that you buy low-quality equipment because it is available at a low price. It may not function properly and even break down time and again. So, always invest in high-quality science equipment and buy it only from reputed buyers.
Other tips:
- The lab technicians should always wear proper gear, clothing and gloves to avoid contaminating the equipment.
- The lab should always be sterilized and disinfected to prevent the growth of diseases and build of bacteria.
- The lab should always be cleaned immediately if there any accidental spills.
- No one should eat or drink in the lab.
- Dispose of the lab gear, chemicals and other materials carefully as per the disposal information.
With the above maintenance tips, your laboratory equipment will always stay in tip-top condition.
Also read: Tips on How to Choose Your Laboratory Equipment Wisely
