Why is it essential to prepare your instrument before you leave for vacation?
The arrival of summer often brings a slowdown in laboratory activity. Between staff vacations, temporary site closures, and building maintenance, many instruments remain unused for several days or even weeks.
However, this period of inactivity is far from insignificant. A prolonged shutdown without proper precautions can affect the performance of your HORIBA instrument and delay the resumption of analyses upon your return. Sample residues, consumables that have reached the end of their service life, stagnant liquids in the circuits, or failure to back up data are all situations that can lead to malfunctions or avoidable service calls.
A few checks before you leave will help maintain your equipment’s performance, extend its lifespan, and ensure a smooth return to work. It’s also the perfect time to schedule preventive maintenance, replace certain wear-and-tear parts, or have your instrument inspected by our technicians, when recommended.
By spending a few minutes preparing your instrument before vacation, you reduce the risk of unexpected downtime and give yourself the best chance of resuming your activities under optimal conditions. So here are the best practices to follow for your instrument to ensure a worry-free summer.
First, you must ensure that your instrument does not experience repeated or sudden power outages without following the recommended shutdown procedure (for example: gradually shutting down software, securing components, properly turning off light sources or lasers, or shutting down pumps or cooling systems), which varies depending on the specific HORIBA instrument you own. An incomplete shutdown procedure can shorten the lifespan of certain components or cause malfunctions when you restart your system. Please refer to your user manual for this recommended shutdown procedure.
Next, make sure your instrument is not unplugged or moved, even temporarily, as this could damage the instrument or its components without you even realizing it. If you need to relocate, our technicians can come to your site to move your instrument safely.
Also, make sure your HORIBA instrument is stored in a controlled-environment facility. It is recommended to avoid significant temperature fluctuations—whether caused by outdoor weather conditions or excessive air conditioning—and to ensure that the room’s humidity level remains within the recommended range to maintain your system’s performance.
It is also important to protect your instrument—particularly from dust—using a cover. This will protect your system in the event of maintenance or thorough cleaning in its storage room, thereby preventing it from becoming contaminated during your absence.
Furthermore, for instruments that use liquid circulation systems, such as ICP-OES or gas analyzers, it is not recommended to leave solutions, acids, or samples in the circuits for several weeks.
Before you leave, you can rinse the circuits according to our recommendations, then empty the reservoirs if necessary and use recommended storage solutions. This helps prevent deposits, crystallization, corrosion, and blockages in your instrument’s circuit.
When it comes to maintaining your instrument, many users put off cleaning it until after their vacation. However, it only takes a few minutes to clean the surfaces with appropriate solutions, remove dust with a soft cloth, wipe away sample residue, and check the instrument’s overall condition. A clean instrument generally starts up again in better condition.
Take advantage of this maintenance opportunity to review your supplies and order any items you’re running low on to avoid delivery delays when you return to work. Nothing is more frustrating than resuming your analysis only to discover that an essential part needs to be ordered—when this could have been anticipated.
To ensure a smooth return to business, you can sign up for a maintenance contract right away. This will give you access to a preventive maintenance visit, during which we’ll replace wear-and-tear parts, check your instrument’s performance, recalibrate your equipment if needed, and address potential issues before you resume operations. Summer is often the ideal time to have our service engineers visit. Maintenance performed before the new season begins ensures that your instrument is operational, performing at its best, and ready to meet your needs as soon as the season starts.
