A suction breakdown brings the practice to a halt. Often, it does not come out of nowhere: it has been building for weeks, for lack of a simple task. Here are ten common mistakes, covering both suction and compressor. For each one, the task specified in Cattani's documentation.
1. Skipping the evening rinse
On Smart suction systems, Cattani calls for drawing a solution of Puli-Jet Plus 2.0, a disinfectant with descaler, through the circuit every evening using the Pulse Cleaner. According to Cattani's UK subsidiary, daily maintenance reduces the build-up of bacteria and prevents blockages and bad odors. On the Aspi-Jet, an extra clean is added before the lunch break.
2. Forgetting the anti-foam tablets
Foam can interrupt suction. Disinfecting anti-foam tablets prevent it from forming. The Smart manual asks for them to be placed in the chair filters every day.
3. Ignoring the alarms on the display
The suction system reports its own faults. The Smart manual asks you to check every day for any alarm signals. If there is a danger warning, contact the technician. With the SmartApp, this check can be done from a tablet or smartphone, without going down to the equipment room.
4. Waiting until the amalgam container is full
The display signals 95% and then 100% container fill. At 95%, plan the replacement. According to the Cattani ESAM UK maintenance guide, waiting until 100% can interrupt the practice's activity. Keep a spare container.
5. Neglecting the filters
Two filters need regular attention:
- the Hydrocyclone filter, to be replaced every day when dirty;
- the suction unit filter, to be cleaned periodically.
On the technician's side, the HEPA H14 absolute filter on the air outlet is replaced every 12 months, if routine maintenance is not enough.
6. Blocking the ventilation
An equipment room quickly turns into a storeroom. Boxes and stock pile up around the machines. The Smart manual asks you to check occasionally that nothing obstructs the suction unit's ventilation. On the compressor, the technician checks that the fans work every 12 months.
7. Using just any product
An unsuitable product can damage the circuit. According to the Smart manual, using unsuitable products or products other than those specified by Cattani can void the warranty, as can incorrect use or work by unauthorized persons. For the Hydrocyclone, the manual calls for a product specifically for suction systems and amalgam separators. Our article “Puli-Jet Plus 2.0 vs Puli-Jet Classic: differences and use” helps you choose.
8. Letting the equipment room get too hot or too cold
Machines have limits. For the compressor, Cattani asks for the equipment room temperature to be checked regularly: it must stay between +5 °C and +35 °C. The Hydrocyclones operate between +5 °C and +40 °C. A closed room in midsummer, or one exposed to frost, soon falls outside these ranges.
9. Never draining the compressor tank
Cattani's compressor manual asks you to open the tap under the tank periodically. If there is moisture, call a technician. It is a sign that something needs checking.
10. Postponing extraordinary maintenance
The practice routine does not replace the technician's visit. Cattani entrusts extraordinary maintenance to a trained technician, with original parts. The schedule set out in Cattani's documentation:
- Smart suction, every 12 months: check the maximum recorded temperatures and all alarm signals;
- Hydrocyclone, every year: remove the upper part and clean all its components, especially the five openings;
- Smart suction, every 18 to 24 months: check the centrifugal separator and the recirculation valve;
- Smart suction, every 10,000 hours: replace the motor bearings if necessary;
- compressor, every 6 months: check the current draw with a clamp meter;
- compressor, every 12 months: in a clean environment, clean the head filters with compressed air and replace them; check the charging time (from 6 to 8 bar: 45 to 50 seconds);
- compressor, by operating hours: bearings, about 10,000 hours; anti-vibration mounts, about 5 years or 5,000 hours.
Before any technical work on the suction system, Cattani requires several washes with Puli-Jet Plus 2.0, followed by a 15-minute wait.
A good habit: put the routine on the wall
Cattani publishes routine and extraordinary maintenance posters, available on the Documentationpage. Put them up in the equipment room. The complete routine is also detailed in our article “Dental suction maintenance: the Cattani routine” and on the Maintenance.
A Cattani specialist can advise you
Is your suction system or compressor showing an alarm, or do you want to schedule extraordinary maintenance? A Cattani specialist will help you organize the service visit.
Ask a Cattani specialist for advice
Sources: Cattani documentation, manual Smart 04-2024 (FR), p. 19, 20, 21, 32 and 36; Cattani documentation, Turbo-Smart / Micro-Smart extraordinary maintenance poster (Sept. 2023), p. 2; Cattani documentation, manual Hydrocyclone ISO 18, p. 15, 19 and 20; Cattani documentation, manual Hydrocyclone ISO 6, p. 15; Cattani documentation, manual Aspi-Jet 10-2021 (FR), p. 15; Cattani documentation, manual oil-free compressors 1-2-3 cylinders 02-2023 (FR), p. 13 and 14; Cattani documentation, routine maintenance poster for suction units and compressors, p. 2; Cattani documentation, extraordinary maintenance poster for suction units and compressors, p. 2; Cattani, product sheet disinfecting anti-foam tablets (cattani.it); Cattani ESAM UK (Cattani subsidiary), Smart suction maintenance guide, p. 2, 3 and 7.