How long does air keep?

[dogglebe]

I bought an aluminum tank for my wife last December and she'll be using it in the next few weeks. Would the air in it still be usable? Or would it have gone stale by now?


Phil

 

[101recon]

It should be fine.I have 2 that were filled in Nov. & Dec. and can't wait to use them.I would check the pressure though.

 

[spectrum]

It should be fine. Some divers refill if the air stands for a year but that's usually just "because" and it's cheap. I don't think twice about carrying air from fall to the next spring.

Pete

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I never carry air that long. I'd go crazy that long between dives.

 

[101recon]

I never carry air that long. I'd go crazy that long between dives.

Being a very avid new diver my 1st off season has been long indeed.If I could figure out how to sell "stale air" I could use the profit for a drysuit and the problem would take care of itself.

 

[Graeme Tolton]

I have terrible memories of off seasons... then i got a drysuit... If in doubt, give the air a sniff, make sure it doesn't have any smell to it. If it is nitrox, re-analyze it. If it is lower o2 than your last analysis, the tank needs a vip.

 

[Doc Harry]

Assuming that the aluminum cylinder has a current visual inspection sticker and a current hydro, the gas should last a long time. There has never been a documented case where an aluminum cylinder has changed the gas to any significant degree.

Of course, if your cylinder contains anything but air, it would be prudent to re-analyze the gas before you use it. A "sniff" test would also be prudent.

It is a completely different story when it comes to steel cylinders.

 

[dogglebe]

It's plain ol' ai. She started diving only last year; I'm starting in a few short weeks. Figured it was better to ask than to make a mistake.

Thanks everyone.


Phil

 

[Graeme Tolton]

As a matter of practice, it is actually a good idea to give every tank the sniff test. Bad air can kill.

 

[Hatul]

Assuming that the aluminum cylinder has a current visual inspection sticker and a current hydro, the gas should last a long time. There has never been a documented case where an aluminum cylinder has changed the gas to any significant degree.

Of course, if your cylinder contains anything but air, it would be prudent to re-analyze the gas before you use it. A "sniff" test would also be prudent.

It is a completely different story when it comes to steel cylinders.

That's the story with steel cylinders?