Regulator service

[emoreira]

Hi all
It's commonly heard that a regulator should be serviced yearly, but it also should depend on the amount of dives it has yearly.
I own my reg set since a few months and I dive a few times a year (an average of 15 to 20 tanks per year).
With this should I service my reg set yearly or could it be every two years ?
Is there any sign that the reg set needs a service, besides of a real malfunction ?

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Hi emoreira,

A good starting place is learning to inspect your own regulators. This thread has some terrific advice and tips:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/regulators/346813-regulator-inspection-checklist-rev-7-a.html

Just some general comments on regulator service frequency, since I had to think through the same issues that you are currently considering as I began servicing my own regulators:

1.) Regulators will generally wear out or "malfunction" gracefully. You'll notice a reduction in breathing performance, the 2nd stage may begin to "hiss" a bit when you turn on the air, you'll notice some slight bubbling from various o-rings, etc. It is very rare for a regulator to "just stop working"; they are designed as "downstream" valves, which are trying to "hold back" the high pressure air in your scuba tank, and as the seats and o-rings begin to wear out, too much air will pass, not too little.

2.) Regular inspection and testing (see the link above) will give you plenty of warning that service is needed.... much more warning than if you only have your regulator inspected and tested during the annual service.

3.) Some regs may indeed be ready for service at the end of just one year, and in some cases, even sooner. It depends on factors such as number of dives, how well the regulator was cared for by the diver, proper storage, the dive envioronment, and maybe just a bit of "luck".

What I have been doing with my family's regulators (currently 8 sets) is to test and inspect frequently, and service as soon as I detect a change in performance. Using an IP gauge is probably the single most important tool to determine the "health" of your reg (second only to a careful visual inspection before and after each dive trip).

Best wishes.

 

[Sharkbait2005]

You said 15-20 tanks a year. At that pace I would think every other year would suffice.
Depending on whether you bought your set new or gently used. Is it under warranty?
Some manufacturers warranty parts on the overhauls, but require annual inspections. You would still be paying for the 'labor' of the service on either.

 

[emoreira]

You said 15-20 tanks a year. At that pace I would think every other year would suffice.
Depending on whether you bought your set new or gently used. Is it under warranty?
Some manufacturers warranty parts on the overhauls, but require annual inspections. You would still be paying for the 'labor' of the service on either.

I've bought an old used reg set fully refurbished. Since refurbishment it had only several pool dives for verification.

 

[h90]

I let mine service all 5 years

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

I've bought an old used reg set fully refurbished. Since refurbishment it had only several pool dives for verification.

In this situation, I would test and inspect carefully; but only service if there was an indication that service was required (unstable IP or IP outside normal range, poor breathing performance, air leaks, etc.).

Time between services is in my opinion less important than the observed and measured performance of the regulator, within reason. If someone handed me a reg that had not been used in over 5 years, but seemed to be performing fine... I think I'd be more comfortable tearing it down and giving it a good cleaning, inspection and relubricating the o-rings.... but if the reg had just been sitting for a year or two and tested fine, I'd dive it without hesitation.

Why?

Because every day, "new" regulators are being sold and used that have sat on a shelf in their pretty boxes for that long, and nobody gives it a second thought.

Best wishes.

 

[Sharkbait2005]

Why?

Because every day, "new" regulators are being sold and used that have sat on a shelf in their pretty boxes for that long, and nobody gives it a second thought.

Best wishes.

Jeez LT, that sounds kind of cynical.
Just kidding ya. I would agree with that. I'd also say as long as it's stored 'properly'.

 

[knowone]

What does cynical mean?

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Jeez LT, that sounds kind of cynical.
Just kidding ya. I would agree with that. I'd also say as long as it's stored 'properly'.

I may have sounded a bit cynical, but actually I don't have any problem with diving a "new in the box" reg that has sat properly stored for a few years.

I guess where I do get cynical is when there is a double standard applied to "used" regs.... The longevity of the internal "bits and bobs" should be the same, assuming there was no water intrusion and the reg is stored properly....

The "no water intrusion" and proper storage is the fly in the ointment, because the typical diver might not know if a few stray drops have found their way into the first stage when switching tanks on a dive boat, or during washing....

So I always "default" to inspection and testing results versus elapsed time between services, except that I'm still a bit of a "sissy" if I think it has been a REALLY long time since the reg's last full service.... at a certain point I'm just more comfortable tearing the reg apart and taking a peek inside for peace of mind.

Best wishes.