I'm sick and tired of having to service gear that hasn't been looked after properly. I'm sure most of you know this all anyway, but here's my suggestion for looking after you gear properly, to make sure that it doesn't turn to crap on you.
1. Make sure you get the gear serviced annually. This is your entire reg set, as well as your BCD. Funnily enough, there are several components in the BC inflator which can screw up if you don't look after them, as well as your dump valves which can wear. If you dive a LOT, I might even recommend taking your gear in for a clean and check up every six months, just to be on the safe side.
2. RINSE YOUR GEAR AFTER EVERY DIVE! If you're pedantic and really care about your gear, use warm water and soak the gear, this way you'll most likely get rid of all the salt crystals (which is what causes the problems).
To rinse your regulators
The best way to rinse this is under pressure - simply leave your scuba unit together (tank, regs & BC) with pressure in the system, and dunk it in a tub, leaving it to soak. I know that a lot of times you can't wash them under pressure, so be very careful if you wash them all individually to not get water in areas where it shouldn't go.
MAKE SURE THE DUST CAP IS ON! If your regs aren't environmentally sealed, you have to remember that you have an entire dive for salt water to penetrate the ambient chambers of your reg. Most people only dunk the regs quickly to wash them, this probably isn't enough time to adequately clean the regs. Soak them (in warm water as I suggested earlier) for an extended period, making sure that you move them around every now and then to get water flow happening.
To rinse the second stages, never ever hold the purge button in if there is no pressure in the system. If you do, this will send water straight up your hoses and into your first stage which is Very Bad. Again, soak them in warm water. If you want to move them through the water for flow, make sure you don't move the second stage against the purge button pressure so you inadvertantly let the water pressure push the purge button (let me know if that sentence makes NO SENSE).
For gauges and compasses, make sure you get salt and sand out of everything. Turn bezels to make sure they run smoothly, and again, let them soak to get the water out.
To rinse your BCD
Never push the inflation button if the system has no pressure in the line. This will send water into your inflation mechanism and more than likely cause corrosion.
To clean the bladder, inflate the BCD and drain all the salt water out of out using the dump valves. Then inflate it again and fill it with fresh water. Rinse the fresh water around, then drain it. Inflate half way, add some BC Life if you're into your 'products' and then hang it to dry out of sunlight.
I'm running out of time, so I have to go. Let me know if I've missed some important steps (which, knowing me, I have!)
Cheers! |
