Tuttnauer Autoclave FAQ: Common Questions, Real Answers & What I Learned from Years of Repairs

I’ve been working with Tuttnauer sterilizers for about 8 years now, mostly in dental and lab settings. When I first started, I assumed a steam sterilizer was a “set it and forget it” kind of machine. That was wrong. After a $2,800 repair in 2019 and a dozen smaller goofs, I made our team a checklist. This FAQ covers the stuff I wish someone had told me back then.

1. What’s the difference between the Tuttnauer Valueklave and the 3870 series?

The short answer: size and cycle speed. The Valueklave (like the 2340 or 1730) is a benchtop unit. It’s smaller, usually a 5–7 liter chamber, and is perfect for a single-chair dental office. The 3870 series is larger (around 17 liters) and has more automation, like automatic door locking and pre-programmed cycles for things like “wrapped instruments” and “unwrapped.”

If you’re a solo practice and you’re doing maybe 2–3 loads a day, the Valueklave is probably enough. If you have four chairs and a hygienist running back-to-back, the 3870 is worth the upgrade. (I should note: the 3870 is heavier. A lot heavier. Make sure your countertop can support it—ours required a reinforced shelf in 2022.)

2. Where can I find the Tuttnauer Valueklave manual (PDF)?

You can find them on Tuttnauer’s official website. Go to the “Service & Support” section and search by model. The manual for the 2340 MK II is usually available as a PDF. If you can’t find it there, their support team is responsive. I emailed them in March 2024 and got a link within an hour.

I still keep a printed copy next to my machine. Not because I read it cover to cover—I don’t—but because I’ve learned that the “error 5 beep” sequence is always easier to figure out with the manual in hand than trying to find it on Google in the middle of a busy day.

3. What’s the most common Tuttnauer autoclave repair you’ve seen?

In my experience, the answer is a failed solenoid valve or a clogged drain line. Those two things accounted for probably 60% of our issues in the first three years.

The solenoid valve controls the steam release. If it fails, the chamber either doesn’t pressurize or doesn’t vent. We had a valve fail in September 2023, and the machine just sat there beeping for 20 minutes before we figured it out. The part cost about $80. The service call: $350.

Then there’s the drain line. Hard water scale builds up if you’re not using distilled or deionized water. I learned that one the hard way: in late 2020, we ran medical-grade autoclave water (which turned out wasn’t pure enough) for six months, and the scale buildup cost us a $700 repair. So now we only use distilled water, and we flush the drain line monthly.

4. How often should I run a maintenance cycle?

I run a cleaning cycle (with a conditioner tablet) every 20 loads. That’s a rough number. Some reps say every 10 loads. Some say once a week. I think every 20 is a good balance for a mid-volume practice.

The key thing is: don’t wait until you see an error code. By then, the damage is done. We once went about 50 loads between cleanings (my fault, I was on vacation), and the machine started throwing error 3 codes. That error indicates a temperature sensor issue, usually caused by scale build-up. The fix involved disassembling the sensor and scrubbing it, which took about 2 hours. Not hard, but a pain.

5. Can I use an autoclave for items other than instruments? (e.g., lab media, waste)

Depends on the model. A standard Tuttnauer for dental use is meant for solid instruments and wrapped packs. Don’t use it for liquid sterilization unless the machine is specifically rated for it. I learned this one via a near-miss: in 2021, someone in our lab put a flask of liquid into our 1730. The liquid boiled over, which could have damaged the vacuum pump. It didn’t, but we were lucky.

If you need to sterilize glassware or liquids, you need a laboratory autoclave with a liquid cycle. Tuttnauer makes those too (like the Valueklave Lab series), but the chamber and software are different.

6. Is it worth paying extra for rush repair service?

Yes, if you depend on the machine. I’m a fan of not taking risks when you have a deadline.

In March 2024, we had a critical failure on a Friday morning. A full week? That would have meant canceling surgeries on Monday. We paid a $400 rush fee for a Saturday repair. The alternative? Losing three days of procedures, which would have cost us about $4,500. The math is simple, in my experience. Uncertainty is more expensive than a guaranteed rush fee. We now budget for one rush call per year. We haven’t used it since, but having the budget line makes decision-making way faster.

7. What’s the best way to avoid future repairs?

1. Use distilled water. I can’t emphasize this enough.
2. Flush the chamber and drain weekly. It takes 10 minutes.
3. Keep the door seal clean. A little bit of residue stops it from sealing.
4. Run the manual weekly cycle. The 134°C “wrapped” cycle is fine for normal use, but you still need to clean.

I start every new staff member with those four rules. It’s saved me from repeating the mistakes I made early on. (Should mention: we also run a full pre-calibration every 12 months. That’s a $200 check, but it has caught potential issues twice).