When it comes to treating samples through incubation, doing so in water is sometimes more reliable than doing so in an open-air chamber. Because of this, the circulating water bath is a very important piece of laboratory equipment. If you plan to invest in a water bath for your laboratory, it is always good if you arm yourself with a bit of knowledge about which features and functions will serve your lab the best.
Circulatory water baths are preferred because the constant rotation of water provides uniformity of the water temperature, but with multiple units available from different manufacturers, it can be hard to narrow down your choices and find the most well-equipped model. There are actually a few really important attributes to look for in the best-designed laboratory water bath.
Perimeter-Directed Water Flow
Perimeter-directed water flow is the best water flow you can find in a circulating water bath. In these units, the water is circulated from the perimeter of the inside of the tank, which effectively pushes the water in a circular motion for consistent, uniform mixing. Because the current to push the water is at the perimeter, the motion will also not interfere with whatever samples you have inside by pushing against and agitating them.
Hinged Lid with Extended Height
If you need to place something inside of your water bath that is taller than the unit itself, you will need to close the lid in order to keep the contents protected from contaminants. Therefore, it is best if you look for a lid that is hinged but offers extended height up over the actual unit. This design can take up more vertical space in the lab, but it is well worth the ability to use multiple container sizes inside the bath without having to leave the lid open.
Low-Fluid Protection
Water can naturally evaporate if your water bath is in operation for a long duration of time. When the water levels inside of the bath get too low, it can cause the unit to overheat, which will not only damage your unit but also ruin the samples you have inside. The best water baths will have a sensor that detects when water levels are too low. The bath will then automatically shut down the heating elements and signal an alarm to let you know that the water level inside of the tub is too low for operation.
Contact a business that can provide you with laboratory water baths to learn more about what options may be available to you.
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