Scuba tank Care and Maintenance
January 27th, 2012 | Author: admin
The scuba tank is one of the most important pieces of scuba gear. Failure to care for your cylinder can lead to expensive and dangerous consequences. In addition, a well-maintained scuba diving tank can provide you with a minimum of 20 years of service.
When using your scuba tank
A first rule for scuba diving tanks is to never ever completely empty your scuba diving tank. Did I say never? When planning your scuba dives, it is important that you finish off your dive with some air left in your scuba diving tank. Why must you leave some air in the tank? Because when a tank is empty, water may enter by backing up though your regulator.
If for some reason, the scuba dive tank pressure should be completely exhausted, it is important to immediately close the valve to keep moisture out. When bleeding the air from your scuba tank, be sure to bleed the air slowly, as quick bleeding may cause internal condensation.
After your dive, be sure to always rinse your scuba tanks in fresh water, paying special attention to the valves to remove any dirt and salt crystals which may be hindering the operation of the valves. If your cylinder has a boot, it should be removed to ensure that no corrosion is forming beneath the boot. Inspect the cylinder for pitting, corrosion, dents, scrapes, cracks or other damage. Ensure that the tank valve is easy to turn. If there is any difficulty on turning the valve, do not try to lubricate it. Please have it serviced at our dive store.
Get your scuba diving tanks inspected
Due to the fact that most scuba diving tanks can rust and corrode, the inside has to be visually inspected by a qualified service center at least once a year. An annual visual inspection is recommended, but if a tank is used frequently in warm, humid climates, the inspections should be performed more frequently, about every three to six months.
The visual inspection is entails slowly draining the air out of the tank and removing the valves. Using a special light, the interior is inspected for any deficiencies. If the tank passes the visual inspection, it will be tagged with the test date. Please be aware that most dive facilities will not fill a tank without this tag containing the visual inspection test date.
Another test which must periodically be conducted is called a hydrostatic test. This test serves the purpose for evaluating whether there are any signs of metal fatigue and stress. When a tank passes the hydrostatic test, it means that your scuba dive tank can hold air at its rated pressure. A test date will then be stamped onto your tank. Again most dive facilities will not fill your tank if it is not stamped.
Scuba tanks are simple and reliable, but they also carry our most precious commodity for exploring the underwater world. By giving your tank the proper care, we can help ensure that it has a long life, and continues to provide us with that all-important ingredient for life — air.
Posted in Scuba Gear