Contaminated Air??? Or Good to Go?

[talonraid]

My shop has been having quite an interesting week. We had a compressor that built up condensation and totally soaked the filter between the compressor and the cascade bottles. The ruined filter has now been removed and replaced with a new filter. A second filter was also placed on the line to act as a second line of defense. The owner says the air is safe to breath but will smell funny until all of the cascade bottles have had enough air pass through them to basically dilute the smell.

There were several tanks that were filled off of the compressed air that had been "pushed" through the fouled filter. Those tanks had a very strong sour milk smell. So, we've been draining those tanks and cracking them open to check for moisture before refilling them.

Normally the air we have has no detectable odor. Now, there is the slight smell of sour milk from the whip and of course that smell is in the tankss we've been filling since replacing the filter.

So, now here are some questions:

1. Should we be concerned about the now "slightly sour milk" air that we're filling tanks with?

2. Would you dive with the tank if you smelled "slightly sour milk" in the air fill?

 

[Burnsie]

Would I dive with air that smelled funny? Hell no.


Call your local section of the health department, and they will know where to have the air tested. You are putting your shop/fill station at risk as well as anyone who will use that air.

 

[Wiilldd1]

I would not dive the tank.

Burnsie is correct, have it tested!

 

[Ann Marie]

Nope, wouldn't dive it either!

 

[divermatt]

You need to have that checked out.

No go, as far as my tanks, and since I own them, I'd take them to another shop for a vis/fill

 

[fisheater]

Not only would I not dive with sour tank air, I'd never shop at your LDS again and I would urge all of my friends not to either.

Come on!

You guys are supposed to be selling pure, filtered dry air. If you sell crap, your reputation will be sour far longer than the air you're selling.

The boss should clean out his system and not sell any more fills until the system checks out as pure and oder-free.

 

[tc]

Not only would I not dive the tank with the bad smelling fill- I would expect the shop to pay for having it tumbled/cleaned before using it.

 

[Garrobo]

What they said.

 

[sglake]

I agree I would want my tanks cleaned and checked !!

 

[mig_diver]

I guess the decision is unanimous then. In the risk of losing customers and ruining the relationships you have worked so hard to create and maintain, I'd do whats right by your customer