Cost of O2/Nitrox cleaning?

[Sonic04GT]

My two Worthington steel HP100's are due for inspection this month. However, when I was in TX I had them inspected at the lake we were camping at which didn't have O2 clean air. Big mistake on my part. Now they need to be re-certified to fill with Nitrox again. I think one of the tanks has O2 compatible grease/o-ring and the other doesn't.

What is the typical cost per tank for this inspection/cleaning? I'm scared to ask.

 

[Peter_C]

Can you not get banked Nitrox instead of partial pressure fills? In other words, do your tanks actually need to be O2 cleaned? No idea on costs as I maintain my own gear.

 

[eelnoraa]

Peter is right. Find a lds that bank nitrox, then you don't need o2 clean your tank.

 

[elan]

Good advice was given. Here the shop charges 5 more dollars just for recertification. Cleaning the tank can be another 15-20 . If you need to rebuild and clean the valve that can be another 20-30

 

[Sonic04GT]

I thought about banked blends but if the cost is reasonable I'd rather just have them cleaned so I can use partial pressure blending if need be.

 

[Teller]

I agree that you should just go to a shop that banks nitrox but if you want to get them cleaned I would say be prepared to spend about $40 a cylinder. Materials are minimum, your really just paying for the labor. Many of the shop in TX that I am familiar with use the green Simple Green to O2 clean cylinders. Some may have a different opinion but you shouldn't clean your tanks with that stuff. On the other hand the Crystal Simple Green is fine. I only bring this up because many people drop off their equipment at a shop and have no idea what is being done to it. Ask what they use to clean cylinders before you leave your cylinders with them. I got tiered of worrying about it so I just do my own now.

 

[smorneau]

I am having one done this week and I was quoted $65+parts here in Maine.

 

[akdeepdiver]

At the hydro shop I run, we charge $40 per cylinder. This includes the O2 cleaning, a new vis inspection, O2 cleaning of the valve, o2 compatibile Orings and lubricants, new Burst disk, and all ancilliary paperwork. The only thing I would tack on to this cost is if I need to replace parts on the valve (i.e. handwheel is cracked, stem bent, ect).

 

[Peter_C]

At the hydro shop I run, we charge $40 per cylinder. This includes the O2 cleaning, a new vis inspection, O2 cleaning of the valve, o2 compatibile Orings and lubricants, new Burst disk, and all ancilliary paperwork. The only thing I would tack on to this cost is if I need to replace parts on the valve (i.e. handwheel is cracked, stem bent, ect).

How long does it take you guys to O2 clean a tank/valve as you stated? I assume you have spent a lot of money on fancy equipment to cut the time necessary in 1/4's from what it takes us DIY folks to do.

 

[akdeepdiver]

How long does it take you guys to O2 clean a tank/valve as you stated? I assume you have spent a lot of money on fancy equipment to cut the time necessary in 1/4's from what it takes us DIY folks to do.

Honestly, there is no real stock answer to that. What it really depends on is how dirty/contaminated a cylinder is. A valve for instance usually takes 10 minutes,most of it soaking in a degreaser then in the ultrasonic cleaner and the rest assembly and leak checking. Depending on how much hydrocarbons are in the tank, it can take from 30 minutes to a couple hours. But most of this is sitting on the tumbler or the tank dryer. Usual procedure is to put it on the tumbler and clean and then reevaluate after 30 minutes, if nessisary, it stays on for longer. We really dont make much off of the cleaning, we offer it as more of a convenience for customers (I believe the marketing term is Loss leader). The reasons we dont loose money on laber time is because: 1. I have a tumbler that allows me to clean multiple tanks at one time and 2. While tanks are on the tumbler being scrubbed, I can be doing hydros/reg service/ other work at the same time. As for fancy equipment, a lot of my equipment is equipment for normal tank work that we have adapted in order to work on O2. For instance, the tank dryer I use is plumbed into our nitrogen tank so I can dry them with inert gas vs normal air.