Do you get your equipment serviced....

[FSUgly]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I completely agree that annual services are a must since this is your underwater life-support system (and like seabat stated, scubapro warranties require it). I was just wanting to see who out there might think differently (because to be honest, a teeny, tiny part in the back of my mind always likes to play devils advocate and asks is it really necessary). I just dropped my regs off to be serviced and the charge is $25 per stage, so I was also wanting to see how that compared with others.

Thanks again....

 

[GDI]

Once a year as a minimum. Any other time I feel they need it. They are the tools of my trade

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Many divers only do 1-2 tropical trips per year and an annual service is not strictly required but does offer a convenient opportunity to evict the resident spiders from the second stages.

A diver who does a 100 plus dives a year may find the need to bring it in mid season, so it also depends on the care and amount of use the reg receives.

But in the bigger scheme of things, an annual service is pretty cheap in terms of all the other money you spend on diving, particularly dive travel. For an annual service of a regulator $25.00 per stage plus parts is considered a fair rate but $10 to $15 per stage plus parts is also not uncommon in the off season.

VIP and hydro test rates seem to vary substantially. Locally, a hydro is $15 including the VIP and a VIP alone is $5.00.

 

[Cudabait]

I'm not as lucky as Mike F. I have to do both mine and my wife's. I stay on top of it 'cause we dive quite a bit.

regards,

 

[SchoonCR]

On getting the gear serviced. Our local shop, where I bought my gear, gives the annual service on everything purchased for free each year. Didn't get the best price, but that peace of mind is worth it.

 

[caymaniac]

On getting the gear serviced. Our local shop, where I bought my gear, gives the annual service on everything purchased for free each year. Didn't get the best price, but that peace of mind is worth it.

I do get my gear serviced every year, but it doesnt always help. Three years ago, I had my gear serviced and my octo(air II type) fell apart on the dock, fortunately none of the parts fell through the cracks and I put it back together myself. Two years ago, I had my regs serviced and while diving off LC my mouthpiece separated from the second stage......I swallowed a bit of water on that trip. Last year I had it serviced and my wifes second stage wouldn't stop from freeflowing on our liveaboard trip. So, this year we had all our equip. serviced again.
As far as servicing my wife....at least twice a week :dazzler1:

Dive Safe,
Caymaniac

 

[flw]

I tend to get the regs on my rb serviced every year, but stage regs and my oc shallow stuff only when it's starting to cause a problem, regs rarely fail catastrophically, and they are backed up anyway. The only time I've ever had a major failure was immediately after an annual service 18 minutes into a 70m dive, when after a minor knock, my backup freeflowed. The other time was again immediately after a service, my buddies reg jammed shut 3 minutes after dropping down the line, although that was many years ago
F

 

[Zippsy]

Just curious - I've never heard of annual service for BC's. What do they do? My first BC lasted around 13 years and never had anything done to it other than a good washing after each dive. My wife's lasted longer without any servicing either.

 

[Michael Schlink]

I inspect everything I am going to use on a dive before I use it. Reg's get broken down as often as needed, at least every year but usually more often. I do most everything myself.

 

[annie]

I left my regs in to be serviced last weekend. Didn't have the BC serviced, I ask as well, does everyone do this? As far as I can tell, mine's in perfect condition, is 2 years old and well looked after.

I bought my tank last year, haven't used it yet, it's completely empty - do you recommend a VIP before I dive with it?