Midmark M11 Leaking Water
An autoclave runs on water. Eventually, it's bound to leak from somewhere. Let's take a look at a few of the places this can happen on a Midmark M11. (This guide also applies to the Midmark M9).
Water pooling in front of the M11
It is normal for a few ounces of water to pool in front of an M11 throughout the day. That's because when the door opens at the end of each cycle, water drips down the inside of the door onto the counter. Escaping steam also condenses on the front of the M11 and drips to the counter. This small amount of water pooling is unavoidable when operating an M11.
If you are seeing an increase in the water pooling in front of your M11, it's likely your door gasket is worn out. Steam and water escaping from a worn door gasket will pool in the same place: directly beneath the door. Detailed instructions on checking your gasket are available in our M11 door gasket guide.
Water pouring from front of chamber
If you have water pouring out the front of the chamber as soon as you open the door, one of two things might be happening:
Does this happen immediately after a failed cycle, but doesn't happen when the M11 is on standby? If so, you probably have a dirty or defective water sensor. That's the round disk at the very back of the chamber, near the bottom. You can try cleaning the surface of the disc with a slightly abrasive pad, such as a Scotch Brite pad. Rinse and wipe thoroughly, then try another cycle. If the problem continues, call a service technician to evaluate and replace the sensor. Expect to pay about $300.
Does water continuously fill the chamber until it spills out the front, even when the M11 is not in operation? If so, your fill valve is leaking. That's definitely a job for a technician. Expect to pay $500-$700
Water leaking from front left corner
Is a large amount of water coming from the front left corner of the M11, immediately after filling the reservoir? Your water level tube has come loose from its mount. You'll need a new tube (the current one will be too stretched-out to reuse). This is an inexpensive, 5-minute fix for an autoclave technician. Many techs carry that tube in their vans. Expect to pay less than $200.
Water pooling beneath the M11
Is water dripping from the center of the chassis, beneath the M11? You may have an uncommon problem in which the heating element washers are dried out. That is a straightforward repair for a technician, although it can be time/labor intensive in certain difficult cases. Expect to pay $400-$600
Water leaking from the back of the M11
Is water leaking from the back right corner or back center of the M11? You probably have a dried-out/torn water fill hose. This is a very simple fix, although the average technician may not have a replacement hose on hand. We do keep them in stock at Duray Autoclave Service. Expect to pay less than $200.
Remember: if you're in Minnesota or Western Wisconsin, you can call Duray Autoclave Service for on-site help with your autoclave’s water leak.