Surprised VIP + O2 Cleaning Many $$$'s

[mike_s]

Each tank (5) was charged an additional $50.00 for O2 cleaning. Needless to say, this times 5 tanks was a much bigger bill than I anticipated !!!

I think that $50 bucks per tank is a bit excessive. I think I can get
it done locally for $25 to $30 for O2 cleaning.

Whether this is a new rule to them or not, for them to charge you
an extra $250 for 5 tanks for O2 cleaning w/o telling you is just piss
poor customer service. They should have called you. bottom line.
If they don't make amends, I'd spend my $$$ elsewhere.


As for whether they fill them with or without O2 cleaning, as the
other said, it depends on if it's pre-mix or partial-pressure-blending.

 

[wedivebc]

Avoid shops that have tank monkeys. Tell the owners of these shops that you are avoiding them because of the tank moneys.

.

you're joking right?

 

[JeffG]

you're joking right?

No

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Wow - I just checked back to see if anyone responded to my thread. Really interesting reading and I'm glad to know that my case wasn't unique.

NAIBdiver1

First, the northern Virgina dive shops meet regularly and have established "policies" that they've all agreed to support for their mutual benefit. Read the word "benefit" any way you choose. Even within this loosely established "consortium", some shops are easier to work with than others. If you would like Doc's list of winners and stinkers, based strictly on Doc's personal experience and not-so-humble opinion, PM me.

Second, not sure which tank monkey told you that tanks only need to be O2 cleaned each time they are hydro-tested, but that is contrary to general practice. Because oxidization inside tanks can be harmful in oxygen-rich environments, tanks used with partial pressure blending should be Visually Inspected annually - and whenever a valve is yanked off a tank, that tank and valve should be O2 cleaned. That means annual O2 cleaning, not only when the tank is hydro'ed.

Third, while its a huge PITA, you've ultimately gotta play the game or else set up your own blending station in your garage. One of the better approaches, IF you have a decent LDS in your area, is to take their Nitrox or Trimix blending course. Aside from building a working relationship with the staff of the LDS, you may be able to set up arrangements where you can clean your own tanks and valves using their equipment and supplies, as well as blend your own nitrox and trimix. Generally you'll see a considerable drop in per tank VIP/O2 clean price, and while the fills won't be that much cheaper, you'll get a blender's % reduction and have the hands on of doing your own fills. I've been able to do this with two local dive shops, and enjoy a very good working relationship with both of them. I recommend you consider this option.

One benefit is that you'll gain respect for the dangers of working with high-pressure O2, and the need to O2 clean religiously. An oxygen fire is a huge problem. If you're working with oxygen, you need to take it seriously.

I live in an apartment, and can't do the "T's of He/O2; compressor on my patio" thing. The next best thing is to have an LDS where I can walk in any day of the week and blend my own tanks, and annually pull a Saturday where I can rip down 4 sets of doubles and 6 stages, O2 clean'em, put'em back together, sticker'em, and fill'em.

Works for me. Diving air is not an option for me. This is next best to having my own blending station, and I don't need to store the tank tumbler, dryer, and stands all year in between VIPs.

Good luck,

Doc

 

[riverdiver]

It is another way that dive shops have made up a way make more money, who is to say that they even 02 clean the tanks. I have gotten contaminated air from LDS, and I told him he needs to 02 clean my tanks, he told me it would be $30.00 per tank. The U.S. Navy has a 40% rule that says up to 40% is to be treated just like air. And this statement is out ofNAUT nitrox book. I now have a compressor and do gas blending, and had my own 02 cleaned stickers made up.
Ed

 

[countryboy]

.. and then there was the shop doing hydros.. well not really, they were just stamping the tanks.

Person is facing up to $250,000.00 fine and up to 5 years in jail..

http://www.courant.com/news/local/ec/hc-4nbrf0824.artaug24,0,5639600.story

 

[captndale]

I think that $50 bucks per tank is a bit excessive. I think I can get
it done locally for $25 to $30 for O2 cleaning.

You are getting a real bargain at $50. I used to own a dive shop, and that is what I charged for O2 cleaning. It takes the better part of a day to do, so if you don't have several to do at once you lose money on every one. I never really wanted to do O2 cleaning because I simply could not charge enough to make it profitable. I only did it as a service to my customers. It is a messy, difficult job to do right.

 

[scubacurt]

New tanks come from the factory O2 cleaned or should I say O2 service ready. I doubt that there is a dive shop out there that can have a tank cleaner than the factory puts it out. IF so they would need to trly acid wash it then rinse it with flowing distilled water. Anyone out there ever seen someone have that much distilled water?? Don't think so. I have found in Denver that it is hugely problematic to have O2 service ready stickers on your tanks. If you go into a dive shop that is totally inline with mixed gas diving they will treat you good, however all of the others will see your stickers and say "we can't fill that" because our airfill system isn't certified for oxygen, which means they will be contaminating your tanks with their non-certified air. Here is where you would say, "gee do you have dirty air" and they would so "oh no, not at all" then you would say "then why cant you fill my tanks with air?" And this would go back and forth back and forth. There is a way to take your tanks in to them without having them totally free of air pressure, send me an email and I will tell you privately how this is done.
-curt-

 

[The Chairman]

I get my tanks VIPed and cleaned yearly for about $.50! Y'all should consider taking Bill High's PSI tank inspector class.

 

[diverbrian]

Having just completed my Blender's course (and having loyally followed the O2 Hacker's Companion), I DO know what is involved with a true Oxygen cleaning and it is very extensive, not to mention a PITA.

I don't dive air if I can help it all, so my primary tanks are O2 cleaned. My stages are O2 cleaned as well. When I started, the shop charged me $50.00 per tank. Now, they point to the facilities to do this and let me go on my merry way. I don't get charged. If I need to blend (usually for stage bottles), I am the one taking the risk typically as I am the one that does my own blends at the shop.

I have a couple of eighties that are not O2 cleaned and I am seriously considering freeing up a set of doubles from these requirements. My dive shop has EAN36 prebanked, so they follow the fourty percent rule and don't go through the hassle of O2 cleaning tanks when they fill more nitrox than air.

In short the cost to me to O2 Clean/ VIP a tank--> $10.00 or less per tank

When I find an instructor for the PSI class, I will be officially handling my own VIP's as well.