Water baths and circulators are used in a variety of settings including industrial and clinical laboratories, academic institutions, government research laboratories, environmental research applications, and food technology. Despite their maturity as a product category, laboratory baths continue their slow evolution, particularly in the areas of controls and user interface.

Top 7 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Bath or Chiller

1. Does the product have any exclusive features? What sets it apart from other vendors’ chillers or baths?
2. Is it important for your lab that the vendor have ISO 9001 certification?
3. What is the warranty period? What does it cover?
4. Are service plans available? If so, is there an on-site option?
5. Does the unit have the appropriate cooling or heating capacity for the application? Is there enough reserve capacity to account for environmental cooling or heating losses?
6. Does the manufacturer offer the necessary accessories for the application? (Tubing, fluid, adapters, electronic interfaces, etc.)
7. Does the manufacturer understand the application and provide a thorough explanation of calculations to recommend the proper instrument?

Types of water bath or chiller used by survey respondents:

How survey respondents repair their baths or chillers:

Nearly 55 percent of respondents are planning to purchase a new bath or chiller. The reasons for these purchases are as follows:

For more information on baths and chillers, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/baths-chillers