Washing gear after vacation

[Diver Tim]

You can soak the first stage as long it is under pressure (connected to a tank); the inside of the first stage is not supposed to get wet and the safest way to make sure water stays out is to pressurize it.

That's what I thought. Seemed a little like overkill to categorically say "don't soak the first stage." If I can spend an hour underwater with my reg attached to a tank, I'm sure it can stand an hour or two attached to a tank in a tub on my porch.

Tim

 

[vladimir]

At this point I would suggest an hour min soak with mild soap then a rinse. It does not take long to do this

About an hour, minimum?

That's what I thought. Seemed a little like overkill to categorically say "don't soak the first stage." If I can spend an hour underwater with my reg attached to a tank, I'm sure it can stand an hour or two attached to a tank in a tub on my porch.

Most "vacation divers" won't have a pressurized tank handy to facilitate soaking.

 

[Griffo]

I've always been curious. When everyone talks about soaking the reg pressurized, does that mean everyone has a pony they attach it to? What about twins?

I always soak my first stage, I fail to see how water can get past the o-ring which seals against the din cap.



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[spectrum]

I've always been curious. When everyone talks about soaking the reg pressurized, does that mean everyone has a pony they attach it to? What about twins?

I always soak my first stage, I fail to see how water can get past the o-ring which seals against the din cap.



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First of all not all dust caps are created equal. Most DIN caps are just boots. Any source of tiny bubbles is a source for water intrusion and we all know not to press the purge of an unpressurized second stage while it's submerged. Pressurizing solves all of these "what if's".

When I get home I mount the regulator back on the cylinder and the whole thing goes in a sun warmed barrel. The BC follows after the bladder is rinsed 3 times. I make an effort to do this as soon as I hit the driveway and may then go in for a break. My depleted cylinders almost always come home so I use them. If the outing ended with a drop-off then I use whatever is at home. If we both dive then all of the hoses go down in a 5 gal pail to soak the gadgets and I spray the first stages and cylinders including up in the boots.

Latter I do the rest of the gear in a smaller tub.

Pete

 

[DMDavid]

I always soak my first stage, I fail to see how water can get past the o-ring which seals against the din cap.

I have to agree, I have always (30+ years) soaked my regs with the din cap on and unpressurized.
Never had a problem and gear has lasted for decades.

 

[redacted]

I always soak my first stage, I fail to see how water can get past the o-ring which seals against the din cap.

i have had that o-ring come up missing a few times. inspect it closely as looks may be deceiving.

 

[Texasguy]

Normally I'm fanatical about rinsing my gear after each dive. Recently, however, I wasn't able to rinse my gear that well immediately after our last dives.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Evidently it is craigslist time.

 

[mathauck0814]

People are entirely too anal about this stuff. Yes, you should rinse your gear. Your gear is definitely not ruined because it sat for a week.

 

[freewillie]

Thanks for the feedback. I didn't think the gear was ruined, I was basically being lazy. Didn't want to wash the gear if wasn't going to do any good. At this point I bought a small bottle sink the stink and will give my 3 mm a wash since won't use for a little while and will soak the BC and regs.

 

[scubadada]

I used to frequently have the same problem returning from trips to Florida. I took care of my rinses once I was home in Pennsylvania. I never rinsed my regulateor under pressure and have never had a problem. I doubt I'm just lucky. Fortunately, now I can rinse my gear daily and do not have that problem.

Best, Craig