Five signs your compressor needs replacing

As all practice staff know, a dental compressor is an essential piece of equipment in any dental surgery. Without it, your entire practice will grind to a halt, and if you can’t work, you’re losing out on potentially thousands of pounds worth of income.Regular maintenance is vital to keep your compressor running efficiently, and our article Five Top Tips for Maximising the Life of Your Compressor will ensure that you make the most of your investment. However, if you notice any of the following warning signs, it may be time to consider a replacement:

• Excessive noise
• Excessive oil consumption
• Excessively hot discharge air
• Smell of burning or other strong odours
• Regularly blowing fuses

Repair or replace?

We know that replacing your dental compressor is a big investment, so we can understand that you may prefer to repair. But before calling in the engineers, you should weigh up these factors:

• How old is the machine, and how many operational hours has it completed? Is it less than 3-5 years old?
• Has the technology significantly improved since you bought?
• Are parts for the model still readily available?
• Is it generally reliable?
• Does the problem indicate that there may be more serious issues in the near future?

Should your machine be relatively new and not given you any problems before, then repairing it may be the best option. However, if the following apply, then replacement is likely to be the most cost-effective solution:

• If a fault has occurred more than once, the chances are it’ll keep reoccurring.
• If your compressor is an older model, finding parts will become harder and more time consuming, increasing the time that your compressor is out of action.
• Compressors are becoming more and more energy efficient. The savings generated by a new machine could soon cover the costs of buying it.
• Perhaps your surgery is growing and expanding, and your old compressor is no longer big enough for your needs. Investing in a larger unit could be an ideal opportunity to future-proof your business.

If you’re unsure whether to repair or replace, then get in touch with us at Global Dental. We can guide you through the decision process, and help you reach the right decision for maximum profitability in your practice.[nectar_btn size="medium" button_style="regular" button_color_2="Accent-Color" icon_family="none" url="/contact/" text="Contact us now"]