Dust cap left off while soaking Reg

[Rick Murchison]

... To soak or not to soak..... a question for our times...

Poll time!
Rick (Rinser)

 

[burna]

I used to give my old regs just a quick rinse but noticed a gradual build up of salt so started soaking in warm water overnight. After a couple of times they were as clean as a whistle.

I've gotten a bit lazy though with my new regs so now just soak 'em in warm water while I wash the rest of my gear, which takes me ages!! I hate washing my gear, it is such a drag.

I have heard of a dive shop who connected a yoke valve to a tap and he used to put his rentals on there a wash 'em out after each dive. Quick blast with air and they lasted ages apparently.

I'm sure I get a few drops in there, but just connect it up to the tank and give it a good blast out. Really, what is clean fresh water going to do to the inside of a reg? It is all chrome plated brass, rubber, and plastic.

 

[Zung]

Scuba gear will fear no water

 

[FishOutUvH2O]

As a start, consider reading the Owner's Manual for your regulator to determine post dive maintenance. . .

 

[knowone]

For "F"s sake. I'm on my way right now with the laptop on the steering wheel to QUT to register a thesis for reg hygene, whether to wing it or not, or to split or not to split, these will be the subjects. My slant on gear hygene revolves around the Knowsomething sometime chronological post dive method. Clunk gear in back of ute-wagon, fully assembled and hopefully remember to turn tank off. Obviously if your gear has already dried on the way to the car and baked solid on the way to the delousing location soaking methods may need to be utilised. Drive to de lousing location, hose crud off gear whilst filling tub detatch bc then place tanks and regs charged upside down in, any way we all get it and the water goes on the garden out the tube. My friend up the road has a pool so I suggest we have a clean off. Just bring yourselves your significants your regs and your underpants, water conservation, to number 4 North St, oh shoot it's salt chlorinated.
So the answer to the new latest old not so old or new aged question is that a cuttlefish will frighten you to death before your rinsed soaked or soaked rinsed regs will. Phew.

 

[Rick Murchison]

... just a quick rinse but noticed a gradual build up ...

Quick rinses will do that. A thorough rinse, however, will adequately clean the regulator while allowing you the hands-on real time control to prevent water intrusion into the hoses or the first stage
Rick (rinser)

 

[Akimbo]

Soaking a regulator while pressurized is a little awkward, but gives you an opportunity to perform a thorough leak check that is not practical while in use. This procedure also allows you to soak the cylinder valve and leak check. Naturally, any risk of unwanted water intrusion is eliminated.

The caveat is to make certain that the cylinder is stable and secure before walking away from it!

 

[Hatul]

How about the old Sherwoods that have openings making the small bubbles. Are they safe to soak without being pressurized?

 

[Rick Murchison]

How about the old Sherwoods that have openings making the small bubbles. Are they safe to soak without being pressurized?

A few inches deep tub you're probably ok; bottom of a pool... mebbe not
Rick

 

[emoreira]

This is the post-dive procedures of my reg setup. It should apply to any reg setup.