The test equipment needed for a hydro test is quite expensive and it is not profitable for the waverage dive shop to have and maintain the equipment and licenses required. So most shops send the tanks out for the test.
Where many shops screw divers is in the 100% markup they tack onto the price of the hydrotest. This is particularly galling if the test facilty picks up and delivers the tanks. Where they REALLY screw divers is in the cost of the VIP that they add to the cost of the hydrotest. A VIP is already included in the cost of the hydro and is required to be completed as part of the hydro test process.
To complete a hydro test the tank is devalved, a fitting is installed in the neck, the tank is filled with water and then placed in the the test chamber and pumped up to the required test pressure while the expansion is measured.
The tank then has to be removed from the test chamber, emptied of water and thoroughly dried (normally with heated forced air) before being visually inspected and re-valved. The tank is then stamped.
The actual hydrotest test process takes about 5 minutes but the drying, VIP and other parts of the process add to the actual time required per tank. A turn around in a few hours is possible but 24 hours is more reasonable to expect if you deliver the tank directly to the test facility.
Our dive shop does have a test facility on site (it makes a lot more money than the dive shop and the dive shop was started as a side line.) We charge 15.00 per tank which includes a VIP and air fill and charge a lower rate to volume customers.
Where many shops screw divers is in the 100% markup they tack onto the price of the hydrotest. This is particularly galling if the test facilty picks up and delivers the tanks. Where they REALLY screw divers is in the cost of the VIP that they add to the cost of the hydrotest. A VIP is already included in the cost of the hydro and is required to be completed as part of the hydro test process.
To complete a hydro test the tank is devalved, a fitting is installed in the neck, the tank is filled with water and then placed in the the test chamber and pumped up to the required test pressure while the expansion is measured.
The tank then has to be removed from the test chamber, emptied of water and thoroughly dried (normally with heated forced air) before being visually inspected and re-valved. The tank is then stamped.
The actual hydrotest test process takes about 5 minutes but the drying, VIP and other parts of the process add to the actual time required per tank. A turn around in a few hours is possible but 24 hours is more reasonable to expect if you deliver the tank directly to the test facility.
Our dive shop does have a test facility on site (it makes a lot more money than the dive shop and the dive shop was started as a side line.) We charge 15.00 per tank which includes a VIP and air fill and charge a lower rate to volume customers.
