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Cattani compressor servicing: intervals, filters and common faults
Cattani oil-less compressors are robust units that ask relatively little of you, which is exactly why practices drift on servicing them. Here is what a proper service covers, what the self-purging drying column does and does not need, and the faults worth acting on early.
What you are working with
Cattani state that their compressors are hand built, quality checked at every stage of production, and conform to ISO 22052. The units are classed as a Class 1 Medical Device, and the receivers are internally coated with BioCote silver ion technology for antimicrobial protection.
On sizing, Cattani specify that a correctly specified compressor delivers a minimum of 50 litres per minute per chair at 5 bar with surgeries running simultaneously. If your practice has grown since the unit went in, that figure is the one to check it against.
Know what warranty you actually have
Cattani warranty terms depend on the unit, when it was supplied and what was arranged at point of sale, and the terms have not been static over the years. Cattani UK also offer a purchasable extension taking cover beyond the standard term, which has to be bought at point of sale rather than added later.
The practical advice is the same whichever applies to your practice: find out what you have rather than assuming. Warranty length, whether an extension was purchased, and what conditions attach to it are all worth knowing before a fault arrives, not after.
Worth ten minutes of your time: dig out the paperwork for your Cattani units and confirm the warranty term and any conditions attached to it. If you cannot find it or are not sure what it means, ask us — tell us the model and roughly when it went in and we will help you work out where you stand.
How often does a Cattani compressor need servicing?
Annually is the sensible working baseline, and it is what most UK practices run. Check your own model documentation for the specific schedule — it varies across the range, and we would rather identify your unit than quote a universal figure for every Cattani ever made.
Separate obligation, easily missed. Whatever your service interval, the pressure vessel inspection is a distinct legal requirement under PSSR 2000, carried out to the schedule in your Written Scheme of Examination. It is not part of the manufacturer's servicing schedule and it is not automatically included in a service contract. See our compliance calendar for how the two sit alongside each other.
Filters
Filtration is what keeps the air an oil-less compressor delivers clean and dry, and filters are the main consumable on the unit. They are also where corners get cut: a filter that has been cleaned and refitted is not a filter that has been changed.
Your service report should record which filters were replaced. If it does not, that is worth querying — it is the difference between a service and a visit.
Cattani also offer an upgrade path: their compressor filters “can be further upgraded to HEPA H14 filters providing an even higher level of filtration”. Worth a conversation if you are specifying a new installation, and there are separate service kits for HEPA-equipped units.
What Cattani specify for routine maintenance
Cattani publish their own maintenance sheets for oil-less compressors, and they are clear that the monthly checks are for the practice, not the engineer — the document specifies they be carried out by specially instructed surgery staff. These are the ones worth putting on someone's named list:
| Check | What Cattani say |
|---|---|
| Dryer drain bottle | Empty monthly, or more often if required. White sediment in the bottle means the compressor needs a service — contact your technician. |
| Moisture check | Periodically open the tap under the tank and check for moisture. If present, contact a service technician. |
| Room temperature | Plant area should sit between +5°C and +35°C. Air drying effectiveness is reduced above 35°C. |
| Cooling fans | Check efficiency every 12 months — the compressor cannot withstand extended periods without adequate ventilation. |
| Intake filters | Replace more frequently in dusty or debris-heavy plant rooms. |
| Abnormal noise or vibration | Can indicate something loose or worn. Contact a service technician. |
| Cycling behaviour | If no air is being consumed, the compressor should not activate. If it does, check the system and connected instruments for leaks. |
The white sediment check is the useful one. It is a specific, visible early-warning sign that costs nothing to look for, and it appears in Cattani's own documentation rather than in general compressor advice. If someone is emptying that bottle monthly and knows what to look for, you get warning before a fault becomes a breakdown.
The self-purging drying column
Cattani oil-less units are built with a self-purging drying column, designed to require minimal maintenance rather than a consumable drying agent swapped out at every visit.
This matters commercially. Much of the compressor maintenance advice online is written around adsorption dryers, which do need periodic desiccant replacement. If you are being quoted for routine drying-agent replacement on a Cattani, it is entirely reasonable to ask exactly what is being replaced on your model.
It also changes the diagnosis when things go wrong. If you are getting moisture at the point of use on a self-purging system, "replace the desiccant" is not the answer — the purge function or the drying stage itself needs testing. That is an engineer's job, not a parts swap.
Common faults we attend
Moisture reaching the surgeries
Nearly always starts with condensate that is not being drained daily. It is the most skipped task in any practice because it belongs to nobody. Beyond that, on a Cattani the purge and drying stage need testing properly. Cattani's own guidance is to check the tap under the tank for moisture and, if any is present, contact a service technician rather than carry on.
Slow to build pressure
Usually restricted airflow from filters that are past their life, a leak in the system, or worn valves. Filters are the first thing to eliminate — if they have not been changed to schedule, you likely have your answer.
Running more than it used to
Either the practice is asking for more air than before, or air is escaping. On a unit that coped fine for years, suspect a leak first. If you have added a surgery or a previously quiet chair is now running full days, the unit may simply be undersized for what you now do.
Noise or vibration changing
Worth acting on rather than tolerating. Changes here usually point to bearings or the head, both much cheaper to address before failure than after — and if the unit is still inside warranty, worth raising promptly.
What a proper Cattani service covers
| Item | What should happen |
|---|---|
| Filters | Replaced to schedule, and identified individually on the report |
| Drying column | Purge function and drying performance verified |
| Condensate drainage | Receiver drained, drain function confirmed working |
| Pressure switch & regulator | Cut-in and cut-out pressures checked against specification |
| Safety valve | Function tested |
| Pipework & fittings | Leak check across the system |
| Motor & head | Running current, noise and vibration assessed |
| Documentation | Written report of the work carried out |
| Pressure vessel | Statutory inspection under PSSR 2000, per your Written Scheme of Examination |
Frequently asked
How often does a Cattani compressor need servicing?
Annually as a baseline. Check your model documentation for the specific schedule — it varies across the range.
How long is the warranty?
It depends on the unit and what was arranged at point of sale. Cattani UK offer a purchasable extension beyond the standard term, bought at point of sale. Check your own documentation.
Does a Cattani need its drying agent replaced?
These units use a self-purging drying column designed for minimal maintenance, not a routinely replaced drying agent. Query any quote that says otherwise for your model.
Is the pressure vessel inspection included?
Not automatically — it is a separate statutory requirement with separate certification. Confirm it is explicitly in your contract.
Cattani due a service — or overdue one?
We service, repair and install Cattani compressors for practices across the UK, and can carry out the pressure vessel inspection at the same visit. If you are unsure whether your units were registered or when they were last serviced, tell us the model and we will work it out with you.
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