kind of a silly question

[OceanicRocks]

How many of you actually get in a tub just so you can get the parts inside your regulator moving? I have heard that a regulator sitting on a shelf is not such a great thing. I plan to service the unit but I personally dive warm water on vacation type dives. So I would like to keep my reg in top performance rather than allow it to sit on a shelf for 50 out of a 52 week year. I also don't have a pool that I can use regularly but I do plan on going and doing a refresher once a year in a pool somewhere. However this can get expensive too. so whats the theory behing the mystory? if you breath the regulator in the tub will that do it? obviously the first stage is not seeing any water or pressure and the reg also. I would think this is better than nothing but who knows. Oh I live in a cold climate and have no desire to get into the cold and merky waters on the northeast thanks

 

[PhilEllis]

How many of you actually get in a tub just so you can get the parts inside your regulator moving? I have heard that a regulator sitting on a shelf is not such a great thing. I plan to service the unit but I personally dive warm water on vacation type dives. So I would like to keep my reg in top performance rather than allow it to sit on a shelf for 50 out of a 52 week year. I also don't have a pool that I can use regularly but I do plan on going and doing a refresher once a year in a pool somewhere. However this can get expensive too. so whats the theory behing the mystory? if you breath the regulator in the tub will that do it? obviously the first stage is not seeing any water or pressure and the reg also. I would think this is better than nothing but who knows. Oh I live in a cold climate and have no desire to get into the cold and merky waters on the northeast thanks

Any information you have received that claims that letting a regulator sit for a year is more damaging than using that same regulator for a year.......is simply incorrect. There is no need to get in the bath tub with your regulator to somehow "improve" it because it has not been used. Regulators, when properly maintained, are serviced periodically. This is all that is necessary. Thanks.

Phil Ellis

 

[OceanicRocks]

thanks Phil! Yes I have been told that if the internal parts remain seated against some of the rubber gaskets, washers and o rings that it could leat to fatigue and even memory on the parts producing perhaps non ideal seal. This of course would happen over the long run and not in a short year... I would think!

 

[jmichaels]

That is where a pool comes in handy.

 

[redacted]

With your diving plans, I suggest you get your regs out and test then on a tank a couple months before any planned trips. That should leave you plenty of time to correct any problems. That would also be a good time to find a pool and make sure you are still working correctly also.

As long as you store your regs properly (no stress, dark, climate controlled) during to 10 months of disuse, I would not worry about any adverse effects of storage. A large, covered plastic storage container under a bed would be a good option.

 

[Couv]

In addition to what has been said, find some way to keep the purge button pressed while your reg is in storage. Doing so will keep the second stage hard and soft seats apart.

couv

 

[spectrum]

Exercising them in the tub won't do any real good. However if a regulator has drifted to being a chronic free-flower it should show up if you know how to interpret it.

What happens to a regulator over time varies with a lot of things.

If you got a little salt water into it on the last trip it will be rotting in your gear closet. How careful are you at switching cylinders and capping your regulator? Do you let the dive masters touch it?

Just sitting there the seat on most models is taking a set and this can eventually throw off the tune. How much this matters varies with model and how it was last adjusted.

If you get it serviced before a trip allow time to burn a tank of air in a pool or wherever with it in advance of the trip. Allow time to get it back on the bench if it needs a tweak.

If you are comfortable as a diver just find a pool you can get into. Review tour text and go do your skills with someone.

As for diving in the northeast, have you given it a try?

BTW, adding some meat to your profile can improve the usefulness of responses to your posts.

 

[Aspendiver]

In addition to what has been said, find some way to keep the purge button pressed while your reg is in storage. Doing so will keep the second stage hard and soft seats apart.

couv

Not so sure this is a good idea- wouldn't that risk letting moisture in the air getting into the first stage?

 

[spectrum]

Not so sure this is a good idea- wouldn't that risk letting moisture in the air getting into the first stage?

Assuming a reasonably cool and dry storage location moisture is not a concern here.

Some regulators have come with a storage clip that served this purpose. If the second stage is user adjustable then backing off on the seatting can lessen the seat imprint.

In addition to possible contamination and ongoing corrosion it is the imprinting of the seat that can cause some regulators to misbehave after prolonged storage. An imprinted seat will present as being prone to free flow.

Pete

 

[Couv]

Exactly...just like Pete and Awap have said. Cool dry place, purge button depressed. I like to keep mine in a sealed plastic bag as I live in the South and do not wish to share air with the insects and spiders.