A laboratory water bath holds samples at a precise, stable temperature for incubation, warming reagents, enzyme reactions, or thawing, while a chiller provides controlled cooling for instruments and temperature-sensitive processes. In both cases, temperature stability and the right capacity are what make your results repeatable day to day.
Types of water baths
- Standard (still) baths: General-purpose heating for tubes, flasks, and bottles.
- Shaking water baths: Add agitation for cultures, mixing, and reactions that benefit from motion.
- Circulating baths: Pump fluid for excellent uniformity and to supply temperature-controlled fluid to external instruments.
- Recirculating chillers: Remove heat from equipment and reactions that must run cool.
Key factors to consider
- Temperature range and stability: Most baths cover ambient to about 100°C. Look for tight stability (e.g., ±0.1–0.5°C) and good uniformity so every sample sees the same temperature.
- Capacity: Choose enough volume and surface area for your typical batch, with room so vessels aren't crowded.
- Type and features: Decide whether you need still, shaking, or circulating action — and, for cooling, size a chiller to the heat load of your instrument.
- Safety: Over-temperature protection and low-liquid cutoff guard against boil-dry and overheating during unattended runs.
- Construction and cleaning: A seamless stainless steel chamber resists corrosion, cleans easily, and limits biofilm buildup.
Maintenance that protects your results
Use distilled or treated water to reduce scale, add a bath additive or keep the unit covered to limit evaporation and microbial growth, and clean the chamber regularly. A gabled cover reduces heat loss and condensation. These small habits keep temperature stable and extend the life of the bath.
Browse our Laboratory Water Baths & Chillers to find the right heating or cooling solution for your bench.