Do I get it serviced?

[goodeatsfan]

My wife and I just got back from a trip with our brand new regulators. After the very last dive, we found the (filter?) on her 1st stage completely black, whereas mine is still white. Do we need to send it in for servicing? I would appreciate some advise. Thanks!

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Yes, it needs servicing, if only to replace the sintered filter. If that's clogged, under high demand and at depth, it may not pass enough air even if it works well at the surface under low demand. Also, you really don't know the type of contaminant that is causing the blackness , which could affect interior parts. Get it serviced by a reputable dealer.

I dove in Warm Mineral Springs in Florida a while back (1973), and it had 20,000 parts per million mineral content in the water. Everything that water touched turned black.

SeaRat

 

[Dive-aholic]

If you're questioning it, then the answer is yes. This is not something you want answered while your 80' down. Take it to the LDS where you bought it. Being that it's new, they may not charge you. It just depends on why it's discolored.

 

[oxyhacker]

Black usually means carbon from a deteriorating compressor filter, but can also be tank rust (though this would usually be a problem only with steel tanks) or possibly oil. I definately would have a shop take a look at the reg to figure out what the problem is.

Normally when this happens you want to immediately notify whoever you got the fills or rent the tank from so they can check their gear, though if you were traveling and using different shops it can be hard to pin down just where it happened. If you were using your own tanks, you should take a look inside and have them cleaned if necessary.

 

[Jorbar1551]

get them serviced. labor and parts is a small price to pay for your life

 

[goodeatsfan]

actually, it's my wife's... just kidding... will do, thanks for the advice all, sending it in next week...

 

[chewie]

you should bring it back to your LDS to exchange them for a new set or get a full refund. m sure that it's still under warranty. seems like you were dealt a lemon. insist that "the customer is always right"

 

[ShakaZulu]

actually, it's my wife's... just kidding... will do, thanks for the advice all, sending it in next week...

In that case, don't worry about it........they will be good for at least another 1000 dives...

 

[redacted]

I would not get it serviced. I would have the filter replaced and have the regulator inspected. If the inspection results are that the filter did what it is supposed to do, then all is well. If contaminats got past the filter, then additional cleaning may be called for.