Your Guide to Environmental Test Chamber Service

Environmental test chamber manufacturers should provide support throughout the operational lifetime of their product. Just as they guide your initial purchase, they check in when it comes time for scheduled repairs or general maintenance.

Most offer preventative and advanced maintenance plans for that reason. Customer service, though, extends beyond these plans because it’s most important during disruptions. If you have a test chamber that’s not operating properly, you need it fixed—and quickly.

Now, that assumes you’ve maintained a relationship with the original manufacturer. In another scenario, perhaps you’ve purchased a used test chamber. Top-of-the-industry manufacturers are able to work on all test chambers, regardless of make or model. Look for these characteristics in your trusted manufacturer.

Limiting Disruption

At the very least, test chamber customer service should focus on limiting disruptions. Staying ahead of issues is crucial in that regard. They can schedule maintenance check-ins, set dates to review operations and address potential problems before they delay timelines.

It’s not just a measure to prevent production delays, either. Consistent, quality service with calibration during the research and development phase can give you the confidence to map out a timeline or push forward with a product.

Nothing will ever go completely to plan, but you’ll be glad to have technicians to turn to should disruptions arise.

Attentiveness

Testing rarely follows a 9-to-5 schedule. It’s often conducted over several hours and days, and testing is repeated to ensure a thorough testing process. 

Customer service should reflect that with quick responses and/or effective communication. Empathy comes before the solution.

Expertise

Attentiveness and response are nothing if the company you’re dealing with doesn’t have the expertise to deliver solutions. That involves physical repairs and regular inspections, but it also covers a breadth of variables.

Test chambers range from small enough to sit on a table to large enough to drive in. Then there are the detailed conditions, from the test chamber’s capabilities to the required ambient environment, not to mention the national and international standards that vary from industry to industry.

When you ask, ‘Can you do this?’ You want a confident response and an explanation.

Availability

Availability goes beyond a quick answer to an email or a human on the other end of a service phone call. Both are important, but so too is physical availability. An extended delay in testing can throw off your product’s entire timeline.

Consider this when choosing an environmental test chamber vendor. The ability to make on-site repairs and conduct inspections is a must. You cannot ship a test chamber every time a problem arises, nor can you simply drop it off at a shop.

Find a partner who can deliver in person.

Honesty

After dedicated research and discussions with your team, you should expect the same thoroughness from a test chamber manufacturer. If they have your best interest in mind, they won’t steer you in a direction you don’t need to go.

That could involve a conversation about the right test chamber to purchase. They might advise you to rent as you lay out your plan and discuss budget constraints.

They’d also consistently make the right repairs and suggest upgrades if they’re applicable. When it’s time to consider a new machine, they’ll also walk you through that. Invest in a service you can believe in.

The decision to purchase an environmental test chamber should be followed by a commitment to properly maintaining it. It’s an expensive item that’s vital to your operations. If you neglect proper upkeep, you risk hurting your bottom line and delaying product releases.

So how often should you inspect a test chamber? Well, the short answer is to keep an eye that it’s running properly. Any perceived issue should be checked out immediately to prevent larger, more expensive fixes.

Beyond the obvious, it’s important to be thorough. The strong return-on-investment associated with environmental test chambers only comes through regular maintenance. That means you should conduct—or seek out experts to conduct—quarterly and annual checks.

Preventative maintenance schedules may vary depending on the type of test chamber you have. Consult your manufacturer for specifics.

Quarterly Maintenance

Pull out your calendar. Schedule a maintenance check. Then flip three months into the future and schedule another. 

It’s critical that the following maintenance is performed quarterly:

On Your Electrical Systems:

• High-Voltage Reading, Remote and/or Outside Unit
• High-Voltage Reading, Conditioning System
• Low-Voltage Reading, Control Side
• Compressor Amperage Reading
• Heat Amperage Reading
• Control Switch Test (Power, Heat, Cool, Light)
• Interior Lights Test

On Your Humidity System:

• Check the water demineralizer cartridge (monthly)
• Wash external water tank(s) (monthly)
• Purge the water from the test chamber
• Clean the steam generator(s)

On Your Refrigeration System:

• Condenser Coils Cleaning, Combing & Maintenance 
• Static Pressures Check
• Operating Pressures Check
• Diagnostic Data Reading From Copeland Control Modules

In Your Walk-In Room (If Applicable):

• Door Operation & Seal (Latch, Catch & Hinges)
• Door Window
• Air Registers Cleaning & Adjustment (If Necessary) 
• Drain & Condensation Pump Test

Control System & Performance:

• High-Temperature Test: Rate to High Setpoint
• Low-Temperature Test: Rate to Low Setpoint

Quarterly Inspections

In addition to quarterly check-ups, set aside time and resources to conduct inspections of your test chamber’s critical systems. It’s a crucial step. Whereas maintenance focuses on potentially minor fixes or adjustments, inspections cover areas to ensure the test chamber is running properly and will continue to do so. 

Here’s a rundown:  

On Your Electrical Systems:

• Solenoid Covers & Coils
• Condenser Fan Operation

On Your Humidity System:

• Perform an in-house water test
• Inspect hosing on water recirculation system

On Your Refrigeration System:

• Site Glass Oil Level
• Air Dryer Rust or Corrosion
• Clearance Distance for Condenser
• Air Handler Tightness Check to Prevent Air Leaks 
• Pipe Insulation
• Condenser Pipe

In Your Walk-In Room (If Applicable):

• Outside Panel Integrity (Looking for Punctures, Tears, or Dents)
• Inside Panel Integrity (Looking for Punctures, Tears, or Dents)
• Floor Panel Integrity (Looking for Punctures, Tears, or Dents)
• Panel Gaskets
• Panel Locks
• Ports & Port Plugs
• Door Window

Control System & Performance:

• Rust or Corrosion
• Water Leaks or Buildup of Condensation
• Leaking Gaskets
• Proper Clearance

Annual Maintenance

At least once a year, make it a point to clean out the control panel on your electrical systems. Vacuum or blow out to clear debris. 

You should also schedule an inspection of the electrical systems on the following items: 

• Heaters (Wire & Tubular)
• Ground Wires
• Wires (Harnesses)
• Sensor Clips
• Verify Sensors and Controller Accuracy

Lastly, inspect the evaporator in your refrigeration system.

Completing quarterly and annual maintenance will ensure the longterm life of your test chamber and keep it operating at peak performance. You’ll hit deadlines and have the confidence to schedule projects into the future.

It’s one thing to spot an issue in the performance of your test chamber. It’s quite another to fix it quickly. Some companies may have in-house capabilities to address problems as they arise. Those that don’t, however, invest in service plans.

Environmental test chamber manufacturers offer different service plans, designed to provide convenient customer solutions. These plans include advanced service and calibration. 

Preventative Maintenance & Advanced Service Plans

Manufacturers offer routine and scheduled quarterly and annual preventative agreements. Implementing this practice ensures that your test chamber runs smoothly and eliminates the risk of larger issues. 

Keep in mind that these agreements don’t necessarily tie you to the manufacturer or designer of the test chamber you purchased. Skilled technicians can repair models from different manufacturers. 

In addition to preventative plans, manufacturers also offer advanced service plans, such as Associated Environmental Systems (AES)’s Advanced Service Advantage Plan (A.S.A.P), offer test chamber owners a chance to stay ahead of their maintenance. 

Customers who open accounts with a prepaid service balance receive an assortment of benefits: preferred rates on service and parts without overtime charges. The plan covers routine maintenance (as laid out above), and rapid response is guaranteed for unexpected occurrences. 

Companies with a number of environmental test chambers tend to choose this type of service plan, which has the added bonus of allowing balances to be applied to the purchase of new test chambers.

Calibration

The digital state of your test chamber matters just as much as its physical state. While checking for dents, leaks, and corrosion, focus on the calibration of sensors and digital controllers as well. 

Proper calibration is about ensuring precision. The test chamber’s temperature, humidity, controllers, recorders, and sensors all work together to produce accurate results. 

Invalid calibration, on the other hand, can compromise your test data, resulting in lost time and resources. Calibration services keep your test chambers running smoothly, ensure compliance with industry standards, and maximize repeatability. 

They’re key elements in maintaining operations and guaranteeing data you can use.

The purchase of environmental test chambers doesn’t fit into everyone’s budget. Even if it does, it may not be necessary for your testing needs. Renting is a viable option for customers who need to run limited or short-term tests on newly developed products, while minimizing costs.

It’s an option that appeals to many businesses for that reason. The added benefit of renting is it serves as an educational period for companies that may look to purchase a test chamber in the future. 

Why Rent?

Renting instead of purchasing a test chamber comes down to budget and needs. Though test chambers provide strong returns on investment, they’re still large capital expenses. For companies that have very limited and/or specific testing needs, renting is probably the most logical choice. 

Just as in a purchasing decision, research is paramount. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Is this one-off testing or do we anticipate more in the future?
2. What are we testing for (research, production, reliability, or quality)?
3. How strict is our timeline?
4. Can the manufacturer provide a test chamber to fit our needs? 
5. Do we have in-house staff that can operate the test chamber, or do we need support? 
6. What payment plan makes sense for us? 

Such questions will aid your efficiency. If you can remove hiccups prior to the test chamber arriving, it’ll make for smoother testing. The experience of renting and operating an environmental test chamber also serves as an education, especially if you find a vendor with whom you like working. 

You may find yourself planning to purchase one in the future and can use rentals to inform that decision. 

Types Of Rentals

On a basic level, there are three styles of environmental test chambers: floor models, benchtop models, and ovens. Each comes with a range of sizes (floor models, for example, can be large enough to fit cars or massive product quantities) and purposes. 

That’s why it’s so important to understand your requirements prior to renting. You may think you need one thing only to find another solution that is more appropriate. The right environmental test chamber manufacturer can talk you through that process. They’d recommend, say, a salt spray test chamber if you’re testing for corrosion or a temperature and humidity chamber if you’re testing to a military standard. 

The good news is modern test chambers feature widespread customization possibilities. Remote test monitoring, through hardware and software, is also available. Ask the right questions to get the right solutions. 

Should You Buy A Test Chamber?

Companies that have purchased test chambers in lieu of renting them or outsourcing testing have enjoyed strong returns on investment. 

They also thrive with flexibility, knowing they can test at any time. It gives them peace of mind at a time when product recalls are a very real, and expensive, possibility. 

Having said that, it’s not a one-glove-fits all purchase. Consider all the outcomes of your testing. If you’re in the research and development phase, critical to finalizing a product’s detail, you may benefit from a rental to make iterative changes on the fly. However, if you’re testing in the production phase, your test chambers will be in constant use—the cost of a rental would grow exponentially. 

The biggest factor, of course, is how often you’ll need a test environment. Returning constantly to rentals saps your budget, especially when manufacturers offer rent-to-own or buyout options. 

Associated Environmental Systems has customized test chambers for companies in many different industries. We're ready to answer your questions. Please call us at 978-486-5079 or send us a message below.