Ultrasonic cleaners are known for their ability to deliver efficient, contact-free cleaning across a wide range of materials and industries. But for anyone aiming to get the most out of this technology, there’s a hidden step that’s often overlooked: degassing. If you’ve ever filled your ultrasonic tank with fresh cleaning fluid and immediately dropped in your parts, you may have unknowingly reduced your cleaning performance by half.
So what exactly is degassing, and why does it matter? Understanding the role of a degas ultrasonic cleaner can help you avoid wasted energy, improve cleaning speed, and protect your equipment investment over time.
What Does Degassing Mean in Ultrasonic Cleaning?
Degassing refers to the process of removing dissolved gases—mostly air—from the liquid used in ultrasonic cleaning tanks. It may sound simple, but its effects are profound.
Freshly added cleaning liquids (especially water from pressurized taps) are saturated with tiny, invisible gas bubbles. These bubbles absorb ultrasonic energy, interfering with cavitation—the process responsible for cleaning. Instead of blasting contaminants off your parts, the ultrasonic power is spent first driving gas out of the liquid.
By degassing your solution before adding any objects, you allow the ultrasonic cleaner to operate at full efficiency, producing stronger and more uniform cavitation bubbles that clean deeper and faster.
Why Degassing Is Necessary for Effective Cleaning
Degassing isn’t just an optional prep step—it’s a fundamental part of the ultrasonic cleaning process that ensures maximum energy is delivered where it’s needed most. When dissolved gases linger in the cleaning solution, they act as microscopic shock absorbers, reducing the power of each cavitation implosion. This leads to an inconsistent cleaning field, especially in deep crevices, threads, or blind holes where performance matters most.
Moreover, trapped gases disrupt bubble formation and collapse. Since ultrasonic cleaning depends on the intense energy released when cavitation bubbles implode, gas-saturated liquid weakens this mechanism significantly. You may notice visible bubbles but limited agitation at the surface, which is often mistaken for active cleaning. In reality, the cleaning energy is being wasted on degassing during the wash cycle instead of on removing contaminants.
In critical industries such as aerospace, medical device manufacturing, and precision optics, even the slightest residue can cause product failure. That’s why degassing is essential—not just for effectiveness but for safety, compliance, and quality assurance.
How Degas Mode Works in Ultrasonic Cleaners
Modern digital ultrasonic cleaners often feature a dedicated degas mode, and it works a bit differently from standard cleaning cycles.
Instead of delivering a constant ultrasonic pulse, degas mode emits short bursts of high-intensity ultrasonic waves. Between pulses, the solution is still and gives the gases time to gather, rise, and escape to the surface. This pulsed energy accelerates gas release and reduces degassing time from 10–15 minutes down to just 1–3 minutes.
Some units also combine heating with degassing. Warm water lowers gas solubility, helping air escape even faster.
Don’t have a dedicated degas mode? No problem. You can still degas your tank manually by running the ultrasonic unit (without any items inside) for about 5–10 minutes. Heating the solution beforehand makes it more effective.
When and How to Degas Your Ultrasonic Tank
The rule is simple: always degas before cleaning, especially when using fresh solution.
Here’s how to do it:
Fill the tank with the appropriate cleaning solution, ideally at or near the operating temperature (typically 40–60°C). Turn on the ultrasonic cycle—preferably with heat if available—and let it run without any items inside.
During the process, you’ll often see fine bubbles rising from the tank. You might also hear a high-pitched buzzing sound. This is the sign of cavitation energy releasing gas from the liquid.
Let it run for 3–8 minutes depending on tank size, then place your items inside for standard cleaning.
And no—once a solution has been degassed, it doesn’t need to be degassed again unless you replace it or top it off with new fluid.
How to Tell If a Solution Is Degassed
You don’t need lab equipment to tell whether your tank has finished degassing. Watch and listen:
- Before degassing: The solution looks fizzy, and you may see swirling or floating bubbles with minimal surface activity.
- After degassing: The surface becomes clearer, bubbles reduce, and the tank emits a lower, more stable hum.
The clearest sign? Once degassed, your parts will start showing visibly better cleaning results, especially in crevices or textured surfaces.
Benefits of Using a Degas Ultrasonic Cleaner
Incorporating degas mode into your cleaning workflow provides more than just better surface cleanliness. It’s a proactive measure that translates into long-term performance and operational reliability. With a degassed solution, ultrasonic energy is concentrated entirely on cleaning action from the first second—no delay, no wasted power.
This results in:
Improved particle removal efficiency, especially in complex geometries or porous surfaces
Shorter cleaning cycles, which saves time, energy, and labor
Enhanced detergent action, as cavitation bubbles interact more effectively with surfactants
Better repeatability and process control, which is essential in regulated industries like pharmaceuticals or semiconductors
Reduced chemical consumption, since solutions remain active longer and require fewer changes
Lower wear on transducers and tank materials, due to less turbulence and heat from prolonged inefficient cycles
For high-throughput environments, a degas function helps standardize cleaning outcomes, minimizes the risk of contamination, and supports better batch documentation. Whether you’re running a small lab or a production-grade operation, a degas-capable unit raises the bar for performance and consistency.
Why Granbo Offers Advanced Degas Mode for Professional Users
Granbo’s commitment to engineering excellence goes beyond basic cleaning power. Our ultrasonic cleaning systems are built for real-world, high-demand environments where cleaning is critical, not optional. That’s why our professional models include a precisely timed degas cycle as a default startup feature, ensuring that your solution is fully prepared before any items are introduced.
Unlike generic machines, Granbo’s degas mode uses intelligent pulsed energy control—a method that cycles ultrasonic bursts and pauses to accelerate gas release without overheating or disrupting liquid stability. This approach is not only faster but also gentler on sensitive formulations or solvents.
In addition, we integrate:
Visual status indicators that signal when degassing is complete
Customizable parameters so users can adjust degas duration for large tanks or specialized liquids
Automatic heating coordination, which raises solution temperature to reduce gas solubility and shorten degas time
Industrial-grade ceramic transducers, ensuring long-lasting efficiency through frequent degas cycles
Whether you’re using our machines in dental clinics, biomedical labs, watch repair stations, or precision electronics factories, Granbo helps ensure every cleaning cycle begins with peak fluid readiness. Because in professional cleaning, every variable matters—and we help you control them all.
Optimize Every Cleaning Cycle with Proper Degassing
The science of ultrasonic cleaning depends on bubble behavior. And without proper degassing, your bubbles are working against you. Whether you’re cleaning surgical instruments or vintage coins, taking a few minutes to degas your solution means the difference between average and exceptional results.
So next time you start a cleaning session, remember: run the degas first. Your ultrasonic cleaner—and everything inside it—will thank you.
