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Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between reverse osmosis (RO) and deionized (DI) water?

Reverse osmosis removes most dissolved minerals by pushing water through a semipermeable membrane, while deionization removes charged ions through ion exchange to achieve higher purity levels. Carbon steel steam generators can run on RO water, but stainless steel models need DI water, because anything less than pure could corrode the metal.

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What plastics cannot be autoclaved?

Plastics such as polystyrene, polyethylene, and PVC typically cannot be autoclaved, as they tend to melt, deform, or release harmful chemicals when exposed to high heat and pressurized steam. Always verify whether a plastic container or component is autoclave-safe before using steam sterilization.

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Is my water damaging my autoclave?

If you see mineral buildup on your steam generator or find yourself making more frequent service calls, it could be a sign that your feedwater is damaging your autoclave. Left unaddressed, this can lead to issues with poor steam quality, which can reduce the usable life of your autoclave by up to seven years. Still […]

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What temperature do you sterilize plastics at?

All autoclave-safe plastics are rated with a maximum temperature or specific time at temperature cycle parameters. Often, autoclave-safe plastics also list a required loading configuration to ensure proper sterilization and no damage. Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for use documentation before autoclaving plastic components.

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Can I add a water purification system to an existing autoclave?

Yes, you can add a water purification system to an autoclave already in service. You can install the WPS-1200 on the unit itself or on a nearby wall, while you can mount the SterilSource on the wall next to your autoclave.

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What types of food and beverage companies does Consolidated Sterilizer Systems work with?

Our sterilizers are used in a wide variety of facilities, including poultry farms, breweries and wineries, food manufacturing plants, mushroom labs, cannabis labs, agricultural research labs and food testing labs.

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What types of food and beverage applications are Consolidated autoclaves designed for?

Our food-grade sterilizers are suitable for autoclaving soil, glassware, media, waste, liquid pouches, substrates, inoculums and more.

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Can Consolidated autoclaves be used for retort processing and aseptic packaging?

Consolidated does not provide retort sterilizers at this time.

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What type of autoclave do I need to sterilize porous loads?

The materials you intend to sterilize will dictate what type of autoclave you need. For example, porous items and objects that are susceptible to trapping cold air pockets will likely require a Class B sterilizer with vacuum functionality.

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How does an autoclave work?

Autoclaves use extreme heat in the form of pressurized steam in order to sterilize goods. Similar to a pressure cooker, an autoclave uses a locked door to create a sealed chamber. The air within that chamber is then replaced by steam, which is pressurized until the goods within the chamber have been sufficiently sterilized.

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CSS News & Events

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5.29.26

Protect Your Sterilizer & Keep Your OR Running With SterilSource →

For sterile processing teams at healthcare facilities, providing purified water for their autoclave has historically meant accepting tradeoffs around floor space, budget, and throughput. Ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and other, smaller healthcare facilities have felt this most acutely, with many having to choose between installing a bulky reverse osmosis (RO) system that takes up significant […]

5.28.26

Consolidated Sterilizer Systems Introduces SterilSource, a Premium Water Purification System for Healthcare Facilities and Life Science Labs →

May 2026, Billerica, MA — Consolidated Sterilizer Systems is proud to announce the launch of SterilSource, a compact wall-mounted water purification system designed to meet the demanding water quality regulatory requirements of healthcare and life science environments. SterilSource is available in three configurations, offering scalable water treatment solutions from basic mineral and contaminant removal to […]

5.14.26

Consolidated Selected as Small Business Manufacturer by the University of California

Consolidated Selected as Small Business Manufacturer by the University of California →

What Set Us Apart Throughout the RFP process, Consolidated stood out for our: Relationship with UC, which predates this agreement, with many campuses already standardized on our autoclaves Low cost of ownership through non-proprietary parts and third-party service models, including local service Built-in water- and energy-saving features Support for both in-house and generator steam Custom […]
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