Preventive maintenance isn't glamorous. It doesn't show up on a patient report or make headlines in a department meeting. But the cost of skipping it almost always does — in the form of unexpected downtime, emergency service calls, and scans that have to be rescheduled.
After 25 years servicing MRI systems across the US, we've seen the same warning signs show up repeatedly before a major failure. Here are five you should never ignore.
1. Image Quality Has Subtly Declined
This one is easy to miss because it happens gradually. Techs and radiologists adapt to a new baseline without realizing the images are worse than they were six months ago. Watch for increased noise, loss of contrast between tissue types, or artifacts that weren't there before. These can indicate gradient coil issues, RF problems, or a magnet that needs re-shimming — all things that worsen over time if not addressed.
If your radiologist is asking for repeat scans more often than usual, that's worth investigating before attributing it to patient movement.
2. The Coldhead Sound Has Changed
The coldhead — the compressor that recondenses helium boiloff back into liquid — runs continuously and produces a distinctive rhythmic chirping sound that experienced techs know well. That sound becomes background noise after a while, which is exactly why changes to it get missed. If the pitch, rhythm, or intensity shifts, pay attention. The coldhead is the first line of defense against helium loss, and when it starts to fail, a magnet can lose helium faster than most people expect. A quench — where the magnet rapidly loses its superconducting state and vents helium — is expensive, disruptive, and hard on the system. Catching a failing coldhead early is one of the highest-value things a PM visit can do.
3. Helium Consumption Is Up
Even with a functioning coldhead, elevated helium consumption is a warning sign worth taking seriously. Modern superconducting systems are designed for near-zero boiloff under normal operation. If you're topping off more frequently than usual, or if your helium level is dropping between scheduled checks, something in the cryogen system needs attention. Don't wait for the level alarm.
4. The Chiller or Cooling System Is Working Harder
MRI systems generate significant heat, and the cooling infrastructure that keeps them stable is easy to overlook until it fails. If your facility's chiller is cycling more frequently, struggling to maintain temperature, or if the MRI room itself is running warmer than usual, don't dismiss it as a facilities issue. The MRI's own cooling loops and heat exchangers may need service. Thermal stress accelerates wear on virtually every component in the system.
5. Error Codes Are Appearing — Even If They Clear
This is the one we see most often ignored. An error code pops up, the tech acknowledges it, the system recovers, and everyone moves on. But intermittent errors are often the earliest symptom of a developing problem. A gradient warning that appears under load, an injector fault that clears on restart — these aren't glitches, they're data points. Keep a log of every error code, even transient ones. It gives a service technician a much clearer picture of what's actually happening inside the system.
PM Keeps You Compliant, Not Just Running
There's another reason preventive maintenance matters that goes beyond avoiding breakdowns: compliance. Most regulatory bodies and accreditation organizations — including ACR, The Joint Commission, and state health departments — require documented evidence that medical imaging equipment is being maintained according to OEM guidelines. Skipping or delaying PM doesn't just put your equipment at risk; it can put your accreditation at risk too.
A proper PM visit should follow the manufacturer's recommended intervals and documented procedures, with service records kept on file. If you're ever audited or face an equipment-related incident, that paper trail matters.
What a Proper PM Visit Covers
At FDM Enterprises, preventive maintenance includes a full system inspection, gradient performance verification, RF calibration checks, cryogen system review, cooling assessment, and a review of all logged errors — documented to OEM standards. The goal is to find the problem that's developing, not respond to the one that's already happened.
If your system is showing any of these signs — or if you can't remember when your last full PM was — reach out to us here.
