Machines rarely fail without warning. Most give you hints for weeks. Spot them early and you can book a repair on your terms instead of cancelling a full diary. Here are seven signs worth acting on.
1. Treatments feel weaker than they used to
If clients are saying it “doesn’t feel the same” or results are slower, the output may have dropped. On an IPL that can mean a tired lamp. On a laser it can point to a cooling, optics or power fault. Either way, it is worth testing before you raise the settings to compensate.
2. Error codes that keep coming back
A one-off code after a long day can be nothing. The same one returning every week is the machine telling you something. Write down the code, the time and what you were doing. That note saves a lot of diagnosis time.
3. Cuts out or restarts mid-treatment
Sudden shutdowns often trace back to power supply faults, overheating or a loose connection. Stop using the machine until it has been looked at.
4. Water, damp patches or a coolant smell
Water and electronics do not mix. Any leak around the machine, handpiece cable or chiller needs attention straight away. See our page on chiller and cooling repair.
5. The machine is running hotter or louder
New fan noise, a pump that sounds strained, or a handpiece that gets hot faster than it used to can all signal that cooling is struggling.
6. Handpiece or cable faults
Intermittent contact, a screen that flickers when the cable moves or a handpiece that stops responding. Handpieces take a lot of wear. Read about handpiece repair before you buy a replacement.
7. It has been a long time since the last service
If you cannot remember when it was last checked, that is reason enough. A planned service and safety check costs less than an emergency.
What to do next
- Stop treating with a machine you do not trust.
- Note the make, model, error codes and what happened.
- Do not open the casing. Some parts hold dangerous voltages even when switched off.
- Ring us for free phone triage. We will tell you what is likely wrong and what it will probably cost.
