Post Dive Care of your Regulator
Why do divers invest a significant amount of money in dive gear and then use and abuse it!
Remember if you look after your equipment it prolongs the life of it and more importantly reduces the chances of it failing on you. This is particularly important where your regulator is concerned. IT IS YOUR LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM underwater after all.
Do not drag it along the ground - sounds obvious does it not?
Before you get to the cleaning stage, when getting in and out of the water, ensure your equipment is not dangling and being dragged along the ground, particularly if sandy or on a pebbly beach - remember streamlining?
The following pictures show you what happens when a service technician is servicing a regulator that this has happened to... it mades a real mess of their service bench!
Remember if you look after your equipment it prolongs the life of it and more importantly reduces the chances of it failing on you. This is particularly important where your regulator is concerned. IT IS YOUR LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM underwater after all.
Do not drag it along the ground - sounds obvious does it not?
Before you get to the cleaning stage, when getting in and out of the water, ensure your equipment is not dangling and being dragged along the ground, particularly if sandy or on a pebbly beach - remember streamlining?
The following pictures show you what happens when a service technician is servicing a regulator that this has happened to... it mades a real mess of their service bench!
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Clean your Regulator after use
As you probably guessed, your regulator should be thoroughly rinsed off using fresh water after your day of scuba diving is complete.
Just be certain that you don't get any water into the gear's first stage. The internal parts are vulnerable to damage when they're exposed to water and moisture, so letting them get soaked will probably end up causing you to have to take your regulator to a professional to get fixed.
Prior to rinsing off your regulator, replace the dust cap, securely fastening it on. Of course, make sure the cap is dry first. Use compressed air that you could get from the cylinder in order to shoot excess moisture out of the dust cap prior to fastening it into place.
Rather than putting the first stage in fresh water to let it soak, just rinse it off completely in the sink. This will prevent water from seeping past its dust cap. Or you can instead completely submerge the regulator with the first stage attached to a pressurized cylinder. This will also prevent water from entering the unit.
Avoid pressing the purge button on the primary second stage or the octopus during the process of washing the regulator. This will let water into the first stage, which you don't want.
And if you do have hose protectors, be certain you thoroughly rinse beneath them throughout the cleaning process.
Move the low-pressure inflator connector in an effort to get rid of grit, salt, and sand to prevent corrosion and keep the unit performing at its best.
Just be certain that you don't get any water into the gear's first stage. The internal parts are vulnerable to damage when they're exposed to water and moisture, so letting them get soaked will probably end up causing you to have to take your regulator to a professional to get fixed.
Prior to rinsing off your regulator, replace the dust cap, securely fastening it on. Of course, make sure the cap is dry first. Use compressed air that you could get from the cylinder in order to shoot excess moisture out of the dust cap prior to fastening it into place.
Rather than putting the first stage in fresh water to let it soak, just rinse it off completely in the sink. This will prevent water from seeping past its dust cap. Or you can instead completely submerge the regulator with the first stage attached to a pressurized cylinder. This will also prevent water from entering the unit.
Avoid pressing the purge button on the primary second stage or the octopus during the process of washing the regulator. This will let water into the first stage, which you don't want.
And if you do have hose protectors, be certain you thoroughly rinse beneath them throughout the cleaning process.
Move the low-pressure inflator connector in an effort to get rid of grit, salt, and sand to prevent corrosion and keep the unit performing at its best.
After the regulator has been properly soaked, it is important to rinse it vigorously by flushing the first stage ambient chamber (non-environmentally sealed models only), the second stage mouthpiece, and the openings in the second stage front cover with a pressurised stream of water. This will remove any deposits of salt and minerals that were loosened during soaking. If the regulator is not pressurised, do not press the purge button underwater. Moisture may otherwise enter the valves, which will require that the regulator be returned for a full service.
Wipe the regulator as dry as possible and hang by the first stage to ensure that all remaining moisture drains from the second stages.
Adjustable models should be stored with the inhalation control knob turned all the way out (counter-clockwise), away from the regulator body. This will help to extend the life of the low pressure seat.
When the regulator is completely dry, store it in a clean box or sealed inside a plastic bag. Do not store it where it may be exposed to extreme heat or an electric motor which produces ozone. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat, ozone, chlorine, and ultraviolet rays can cause premature degradation of rubber parts and components.
Never store the regulator while it is connected to the cylinder valve.
Do not use any type of solvent or petroleum based substances to clean or lubricate any part of the regulator. Do not expose any part of the regulator to aerosol spray, as some aerosol propellants attack or degrade rubber and plastic materials.
Wipe the regulator as dry as possible and hang by the first stage to ensure that all remaining moisture drains from the second stages.
Adjustable models should be stored with the inhalation control knob turned all the way out (counter-clockwise), away from the regulator body. This will help to extend the life of the low pressure seat.
When the regulator is completely dry, store it in a clean box or sealed inside a plastic bag. Do not store it where it may be exposed to extreme heat or an electric motor which produces ozone. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat, ozone, chlorine, and ultraviolet rays can cause premature degradation of rubber parts and components.
Never store the regulator while it is connected to the cylinder valve.
Do not use any type of solvent or petroleum based substances to clean or lubricate any part of the regulator. Do not expose any part of the regulator to aerosol spray, as some aerosol propellants attack or degrade rubber and plastic materials.
Regulator Bags
We recommend that you use a regulator bag when storing your regulator set and travelling with them. This protects them from impact and shock
Service
Have your regulator serviced according to the manufacturers recommendations or if you have stored it away and not used recently. Never dive on your regulator if you don’t trust it to perform flawlessly, even in an unanticipated out-of-air emergency where a much greater demand is placed on it.
If in doubt, have them serviced.
If in doubt, have them serviced.
Observations on Regulator Care and Servicing
Regulators do not generally make a noise - only the general noise of a regulator exhaust valve when you breath in and out. Other noises can be eliminated and can be the first sign that something is not quite right with your regulators.
No matter who services your regulators, always test them in a pool prior to open water diving
Tropical dive masters are not always competent service technicians!
There is generally a direct correlation between how quickly you want your regulator serviced and how badly the service is needed
Just because you bought it "New - in the box" on any internet selling site doesn't meant it is 20 years old and service parts haven't been available for a number of years. "New" describes the condition, not the age.
We recommend that any purchases of ANY secondhand regulators from secondhand internet sites are serviced prior to use.
No matter who services your regulators, always test them in a pool prior to open water diving
Tropical dive masters are not always competent service technicians!
There is generally a direct correlation between how quickly you want your regulator serviced and how badly the service is needed
Just because you bought it "New - in the box" on any internet selling site doesn't meant it is 20 years old and service parts haven't been available for a number of years. "New" describes the condition, not the age.
We recommend that any purchases of ANY secondhand regulators from secondhand internet sites are serviced prior to use.
How do I learn more?
The Equipment Speciality course prepares you to undertake basic scuba equipment maintenance, shows you how to care and adjust your equipment. In addition you will learn interesting background information about your equipment works. How it's repair and other information helps you with your equipment investment. The more you know about how your dive equipment works, the more comfortable you are with it, the better performance you get from it and the better you can care for it.
So what are you waiting for get yourself booked in.
So what are you waiting for get yourself booked in.
v2.00 March 2018
v1.00 Published September 2017
v1.00 Published September 2017