How often do you replace mushroom valves?

[mr_v]

Howdy,

My mushroom valves seem to be doing quite well after 200 hours on the unit. I check the DSV periodically and maintain it as required. Everything checks out. I am wondering if I am playing with fire by not replacing the valves at some interval. What do you do?

Thank you!

 

[Marcozx]

Annually, cheap and very important component in preventing hypercapnia

 

[macado]

Do a stereo check every build and thoroughly inspect when you service and clean your DSV. I only replace when needed and always keep a spare set of mushroom valves in my "Save a Dive" kit.

I'll probably get chastised for saying this (because it's the Internet) but I replace them when they start looking bad, questionable or if they fail a stereo check. I do a stereo check every build; I see people skip this a lot. This usually means I replace them when a do a full DSV rebuild which seems to be every 2-2.5 years or so.

The old-school Draeger mushroom valves were notorious for shrinking and folding however the newer blue mushroom valves that rEvo uses seem to last much much longer. The ones in my Golem/IQSub BOV/DSVs seem to hold up well.

 

[mr_v]

@macado - yeah, that's kind of my philosophy. I always do stereo checks and inspect the valves. The blue ones have been holding up quite well. I am surprised that you do a full DSV rebuild every 2-2.5 years. It is yearly for me with the stock rEvo DSV.

 

[macado]

@macado - yeah, that's kind of my philosophy. I always do stereo checks and inspect the valves. The blue ones have been holding up quite well. I am surprised that you do a full DSV rebuild every 2-2.5 years. It is yearly for me with the stock rEvo DSV.

I'm using a DiveSoft DSV on my rEvo and my other rebreather has IQSub BOV. Admittedly, I dive my rEvo less than my Defender. I keep a backup loop (hoses/connectors/spare DSV) ready for any issues on a trips.

2-2.5 years is for a complete rebuild. I do take them apart, inspect, clean the orings and re-lube them more frequently but it's not a complete DSV/BOV rebuild.

 

[makar0n]

Hmm speaking of the newer blue mushroom ones - anybody has an idea how they compare vs Dive Rite "default" ones? That is if they even fit...

 

[rjack321]

I replace them when they leak on stereocheck - assuming its not a goober in there. I have not found new ones to be any more reliable than used ones TBH.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

I replace them when they leak on stereocheck -

Me too. I do the check, per the checklist before every dive. I do the checklist before every dive.

 

[rddvet]

Do a stereo check every build and thoroughly inspect when you service and clean your DSV. I only replace when needed and always keep a spare set of mushroom valves in my "Save a Dive" kit.

I'll probably get chastised for saying this (because it's the Internet) but I replace them when they start looking bad, questionable or if they fail a stereo check. I do a stereo check every build; I see people skip this a lot. This usually means I replace them when a do a full DSV rebuild which seems to be every 2-2.5 years or so.

The old-school Draeger mushroom valves were notorious for shrinking and folding however the newer blue mushroom valves that rEvo uses seem to last much much longer. The ones in my Golem/IQSub BOV/DSVs seem to hold up well.

Same. You're not nuts. Or when I send my bov in for service they just do it as standard (Divesoft)

 

[JackZwykle]

1. Stereo check before every dive.
2. Replacement with service interval (2 years). Saving couple of euros not worth the risk.