Statim Leaking Steam

Free Autoclave Troubleshooting Guides



If your Statim is leaking steam around the cassette, and water is pooling underneath the unit, it is time to replace the seal.

But what if replacing the seal does not fix the problem?

How To Re-align The Cassette

Take a look at the back end of the cassette. You will notice there are 2 flanges interlocking with each other, forming a hinge.

The top of the cassette has a solid strip of metal forming a tab. The bottom of the cassette has a flange, with a slot opening to allow insertion of the top flange. Go ahead and separate the top from the bottom of the cassette and set the bottom on a level surface.

Look at the angle the flange forms with the counter.

If it is sticking straight out, that would be a 90 degree angle. Ideally, it should be pointing slightly upward, about 15 - 20 degrees above the 90 degree mark.

To realign the cassette, the only tool you will need is an adjustable (crescent) wrench. With the jaws slightly open, slide the wrench onto the flange and bend the tab (in the center) until it looks like it is 15 - 20 degrees above the horizontal (105-110 degrees with the counter).

Be careful not to break the weld If the weld is broken, the cassette is not repairable and will have to be replaced.

After realigning the flange, reassemable the cassette and re-insert it into the cassette bay and run a cyle. You should notice either a cessation or a change in the amount of steam escaping. If it is still leaking, adjust slightly and try again.

You may have to perform this alignment a few times to get it "just right."

How To Re-align The Cassette


Inspect The Cassette

Inspect the casette for dents, breaks or loose joints. If the cassette is not out of alignment, or realigning it doesn't improve the situation, remove the cassette and set it aside. Take a flashlight and look into the back area of the cassette opening.

To your left side, you will notice 2 ports.

The left port should have a small tube protruding from it (protrudes about a 1/4 of an inch) while on the right, there is simply an opening.

The probe sticking out of the opening is part of the thermocouple and as long as it is intact and not pointing down, it is most likely okay. These rarely get damaged, and if they do, the problem is caused by putting the cassette in upside down and bending or breaking the small probe.

If the thermocouple is damaged, it will need to be replaced. Until now, your only choice was to send it back to the factory for repair (a $1400 minimum charge, plus shipping in both directions. We now offer the replacement thermocouple with complete step-by-step directions.

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