Medical-surgical vacuum pump quarterly maintenance checklist

Master panel staff told before the lag pump is run

Staff at the master panels and clinical engineering told a lag-run signal may show during the round, and no pump or source valve taken out of service for convenience.

Duplex pumps alternating and both running

Lead/lag alternation observed to change over, each pump started and ran under control, no pump locked out or left in hand.

Vacuum level at the gauge holding steady

System gauge reading in the normal band and holding, pump cycling on and off as demand changes rather than running continuously.

Run hours on each pump read and compared

Hour meter or controller display for each pump read and logged, and the gap between pumps compared with last quarter so a pump that stopped taking its turn shows.

Running pumps checked for noise, vibration and heat

Each pump heard under load with guards on, bearing housing and motor frame read with an IR thermometer against last quarter's readings, any rise reported.

Receiver tank and drain checked

Tank drain operated and flowing, no standing condensate, tank and fittings free of corrosion trails or leaks.

Exhaust termination clear and correct

Exhaust routed to the outside termination, discharge clear of intakes and openings, screen intact, no oil staining downstream.

Receiver isolation and any bypass valves in normal position

Each valve at its normal open or closed position and tagged, any bypass closed again after the drain, and no valve left part open.

Pump inlet and exhaust flex connectors checked

Flexible connectors at each pump free of cracks, collapse or oil weeping, vibration isolators sound, and no oil or water pooled on the pad.

Inlet and exhaust filters condition observed

Filters and any bacteria filter fitted and within their change interval, no bypass, differential indicators read where present.

Local and panel alarms showing normal

Pump package alarms clear, lag-pump-in-use and low-vacuum source signals shown at the master alarm panels, area panels clear of zone vacuum alarms, nothing muted.

Package alarm log reviewed for events since last quarter

Package controller showing both pumps available, and its alarm log read for high temperature, lag-run or pump failure events since last quarter, each one followed up.

Pump lubrication checked: oil level, or oil-less noted

Lubricated pumps: oil at the sight glass mark on a stopped pump, clean, not milky or foamed. Oil-less pumps noted as such, with service hours checked against the manual.

Pump room temperature read against the ambient limit

Room thermometer read against the manufacturer's ambient range, ventilation running, and nothing stored against the pumps' cooling air paths.

Round logged and clinical engineering told of findings

Hours, vacuum reading, drain result and any deferred work entered on the pump record, and clinical engineering told of anything that reduces the plant's backup.