When do you service your regulators?

[twaldo]

After a couple of different threads on FaceBook and a conversation with my Adv Nitrox/Deco instructor this weekend got me to wondering, how often does everyone service their regulators?

I see yearly service paramount to rebuilding the engine on car every year (pick your interval). However when the alternator goes bad, you change it/rebuild it. When there is an issue with Ip Creep/leaking 2nd stages you take appropriate action but until then?

[Diverlee]

I service mine the same. When they start to breathe hard or something is not right. I have friends who do it every year to keep the warranty. Funny I don?t think I have every known anyone who had such a bad problem they had to use the warranty. I?m sure someone has but ....
Most tech divers check out their equipment before diving and take care of any problems


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[twaldo]

I have friends who do it every year to keep the warranty.

So my dive buddy at the time had an issue with a 2nd stage.... it was a manufacturing issue... discovered within 2 months of purchase...was covered by warranty obviously. I'm not sure I would want a regulator that needed to be covered by a warranty more than 6 months past purchase.

[michael-fisch]

If it's broke, or not performing perfectly - fix it.
If it ain't broke, continue using it.

Michael

[FW]

I am the same, when they get hard to breathe, or any other problems.

[tbone1004]

same as above. When they ask for it. I check IP before trips to make sure it is stable. If it is not, then it gets rebuilt. If the second stages start breathing funny or leak, then they get adjusted. With most balanced second stages and Poseidon's, the need to actually fully rebuild them is very infrequent

[twaldo]

I have been surprised at how many in the tek diving realm promote regular regulator service, glad to see my feelings on the subject align with everyone that responded. I've felt somewhat shammed into believing that I was just being cheap with life support equipment.

[CHartmann]

The difference with the tech community is we know when something is not right immediately and we are using our gear much more regularly. If you were a recreational diver whose regs sat in a closet for most of the year and only saw use a few times then it makes sense to have them checked/ serviced before using them.

As for me- I typically order the kits every other year or as needed. I service the regs myself and can fix most issues at the dive site if they arise.

[Sludge]

I service all my regs every year or so. Seven systems. I recommend others do the same, but mainly because most drivers don't clean their gear after diving.

[Germie]

I do when needed. I can do it myself. I allways have servicekits here. I only check sometimes if the filter is clean and intermediate pressure is still stabel and around 9-9.5 bar.

Warranty? Bullshit. You have 2 years warranty in Europe, some regs only require 24 months service interval (or 100 dives), so if something goes wrong within the first year, you go back easy. In the second year? How do they want to proof you didn't service it or did service it by yourself? Really, that is impossible. some divers let them fall into water and the filter is corroded within the first month. Or 1 time air with moisture and you will see it. So how do you want to proof the problems are due to too less service? Impossible. You cannot proof there are 120 dives done with a regulator. So the warranty issue is completely bullshit.

Another big difference: 95% of my diving is fresh water, so no need to rinse if there is not sand on it. Salt water means rinsing needed, but even then, you get the salt on your regs. Salt water regs need to be serviced more often.