Regulator annual inspection

[ppatin]

I've got an Edge regulator that says it only needs to be overhauled once every couple of years but should be inspected annually. For an overhaul I'd obviously take it to an authorized HOG/Edge dealer but is it ok to get an inspection at any dive shop that services regs? The closest Edge reseller is about 35 miles away and I'd prefer not to do that drive if I don't have to. Hopefully this isn't too dumb of a question, I haven't dealt with getting regs serviced before.

 

[halocline]

I don't know what the warranty requirements are, but if you're only concerned with the actual inspection and not fulfilling a warranty obligation, you could take it anywhere, or even better, learn to inspect it yourself. It ain't rocket science. There's a sticky for regulator inspection on this forum. Read this post, then navigate back to the regulator forum, then look up about an inch. You'll see it....

 

[ppatin]

I appreciate the suggestion but since I don't have access to a scuba tank doing my own inspection isn't really practical.

 

[chrpai]

I appreciate the suggestion but since I don't have access to a scuba tank doing my own inspection isn't really practical.

Then you probably aren't doing enough dives per year to really worry about needing the annual inspection. You'll be fine. I dive a lot more though and always have tanks and an IP gauge handy so I can do my own inspections.

FWIW, unless an inspection indicates otherwise, I go way longer then 2 years between overhauls.

 

[ppatin]

Ok, thanks for the advice. I know that "on paper" I'm supposed to do a yearly inspection and an overhaul every two years but I've heard of lots of people who aren't nearly that strict.

 

[spectrum]

Not so fast.... The lack of a cylinder is not a free pass on inspection or service. The need for service due to wear and tear is probably a number of years and 100s of dives away. What you need to be comfortable with is how the equipment has been handled. Has the inlet been exposed to salt water? Have the second stages been crapped up with sand muck etc. A few wrong moves can make a mess in a weekend.

The regulator checklist is a great tool. Are you in the market for a cylinder? Can you just do the inspection before or even after diving? Part 2 is reflection on how you have handled this gear.

Pete

 

[Couv]

Rent a tank-->go through the http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/regulators/346813-regulator-inspection-checklist-rev-7-a.html--> have your gear serviced only when needed-->save money--> spend it on diving.

 

[redacted]

No reason you can not do an adequate inspection before/after any dive you do with the tank that you are using.

 

[c5diver]

storage is important part of care to!!

 

[halocline]

No reason you can not do an adequate inspection before/after any dive you do with the tank that you are using.

The only issue would be if he wanted to inspect the reg locally before taking it on a dive trip. In this case, either rent a tank or just bring the reg to a local shop and have them check it. But, if the charge for inspecting a reg gets into the $25-30-40 range, it soon becomes economical to buy a small tank specifically for inspecting and adjusting your own regulator. The first tank I bought was for that purpose; I was renting tanks for local diving.