Based on our experience with HEKA equipment and HEKA's recommended shutdown steps.
1. Drain the water system. Disconnect and empty the external water reservoir or supply. Empty the two stainless-steel reservoirs in the technical compartment (the float reservoir and the heated humidification reservoir): use a turkey baster for most of the water, a large syringe for the rest, and paper towels for the last bit. There's no need to remove the wired heated reservoir.
2. Clean and disinfect the cabinet. Remove the trays, then clean and disinfect the chamber and trays. Use a Magic Eraser or similar pad to remove buildup first, then disinfect. For the side air-return channels, a Swiffer duster works well to remove dust and particle buildup. Hatchers usually need the most attention.
3. Clean the technical compartment. Unplug the unit and wait about 10 minutes for the heating parts to cool, as HEKA recommends. Remove dust, down and dander around the fans, heaters and humidity parts with a vacuum and soft brush. Compressed air can loosen dust, but don't aim it hard at sensors or wiring. Don't soak electrical parts; apply disinfectant around the reservoirs with a cloth rather than spraying.
4. Protect the humidity sensor. HEKA warns that the humidity sensor near the fan must not get wet. Cover it with blue painter's tape or plastic wrap while cleaning, and remove the cover when you're done.
5. Run it dry. With the reservoirs empty, turn the unit on without water and set humidity to 0% so the humidifier heater stays off. Let it run until the humidity reading stops dropping, usually around 30–50% RH depending on the room. This removes moisture left from the last hatch and the cleaning.
6. Shut down and store. Once dry and stable, turn it off, unplug it and store it in a clean, dry indoor space.
Tip: use a dedicated hatcher and the HEKA Hatch Filter Mat. Most mess is created during the hatch, so hatching separately keeps the incubator much cleaner.