Does (should) a new hydro stamp count as VIP?

[Six2Life]

So, I understand that a visual inspection is part of the DOT required cylinder recertification procedure for scuba tanks. Is this inspection any less comprehensive than the one the shop requires to slap on a vip sticker? If not, would an lds have any basis for requiring a new vip on a tank with a hydro less than a year old other than it's his compressor and he's gonna charge you $20 for the privilege of receiving air out of it for a year?

I wonder how many shops skip doing their own vip on tanks they send out for hydro and just sticker it? I really wouldn't see anything wrong with it if they did.

I wonder how many shops will refund the vip portion of their hydro fee if a customer's tank fails hydro and therefore is in no need of a vip?

 

[TwoBitTxn]

DOT has nothing to do with VIP. That is totally a scuba industry thing.

A hydro and a VIP are two totally different things. If a cylinder undergoes a hydro test it will also have to have a new VIP. It's up to the owner of the tank to verify the new sticker. You shouldn't need a new VIP on a cylinder with a hydro less than a year old. Unless, the cylinder has been emptied completely.

I think most shops claim that the hydro is $XX and the VIP is free.

 

[Wookie]

DOT has nothing to do with VIP. That is totally a scuba industry thing.

A hydro and a VIP are two totally different things. If a cylinder undergoes a hydro test it will also have to have a new VIP. It's up to the owner of the tank to verify the new sticker. You shouldn't need a new VIP on a cylinder with a hydro less than a year old. Unless, the cylinder has been emptied completely.

I think most shops claim that the hydro is $XX and the VIP is free.

Sort of, but not quite, Tom. It's a scuba industry thing to require an annual VIP. It is a DOT thing to visually inspect the cylinder as a part of the hydro procedure. The OP's question is valid.

 

[mike_s]

So, I understand that a visual inspection is part of the DOT required cylinder recertification procedure for scuba tanks. Is this inspection any less comprehensive than the one the shop requires to slap on a vip sticker? If not, would an lds have any basis for requiring a new vip on a tank with a hydro less than a year old other than it's his compressor and he's gonna charge you $20 for the privilege of receiving air out of it for a year?

I wonder how many shops skip doing their own vip on tanks they send out for hydro and just sticker it? I really wouldn't see anything wrong with it if they did.

I wonder how many shops will refund the vip portion of their hydro fee if a customer's tank fails hydro and therefore is in no need of a vip?

why do you have to pay for a Visual Inspection sticker when it's part of the Hydro procedure?

Answer: Because they can charge you with it. Argue it with your LDS all you want, but you'll just get an argument.




Will they refund the cost of the Visual part of the hydro test if they hydro fails? I doubt it.


You have to realize, that most LDS's don't do their own hydro's. (yes some do), but most send them out to a "licensed hydro facility" and pay a fee to that facility. If they do a visual on your tank when it gets back, then they charge you an additional fee on top of the hydro fee.

note that it's not that uncommon for a tank to come back from a hydro facility and be completely filthy. The hydro facility I use and the LDS's in my area use, does a large amount of hydro's on welding bottles and fire extinguishers. Most people could care less if their fire extinguisher has residue in it. but a tank matters as you have to breath out of it. So having your LDS visual "to check for crap" in your tank when it comes back from hydro is NOT a terrible thing.

 

[Leadking]

Usually the visual comes before the hydro. Why would you hydro a rusted or pitted tank?

 

[Jax]

Usually the visual comes before the hydro. Why would you hydro a rusted or pitted tank?

Why would you not vis a tank that may be full of crap since it came out of hydro?

I suggest the hydro visually inspects before testing, and the LDS visually inspects after testing.

Given that I breath from this tank, I have no problem paying someone who has a vested interest in my well-being to throw an eyeball on my tank.

 

[mike_s]

Why would you not vis a tank that may be full of crap since it came out of hydro?

I suggest the hydro visually inspects before testing, and the LDS visually inspects after testing.

Given that I breath from this tank, I have no problem paying someone who has a vested interest in my well-being to throw an eyeball on my tank.

Your tanks are PINK.


they should charge you more to have to visual inspect a PINK tank....


just sayin...

 

[Wookie]

Your tanks are PINK.


they should charge you more to have to visual inspect a PINK tank....


just sayin...

Say it isn't so.

You can't put helium in pink tanks

It's not right.

 

[halocline]

I suggest the hydro visually inspects before testing, and the LDS visually inspects after testing.

That's the way it's supposed to happen, but the LDS, if they are charging you for a VIP, should do much more than simply look inside for post-hydro flash rust. They should inspect the tank for structural problems before sending it to hydro, as there's no sense in sending it to the hydro shop if there's obvious structural damage, then when it comes back re-inspect for flash rust, and re-install the valve with a new o-ring, and provide a fill. That's usually all part of the VIP anyway....they have to come up with something to justify that $20.

Jax, quit equating tossing money at your LDS with increased safety. If you're that concerned about your tank's condition (as you have every right to be) insist on looking inside it yourself and learn what to look for. It's not very complicated.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

The tank should be VIPEd before hydro and after hydro and before filling for customer... just good practice.