Scuba Regulator Maintenance - A scuba gear guide on how to maintain your scuba regulator 

If you have invested in a scuba regulator whether new or second hand, you will have to start to take the necessary scuba regulator maintenance tips so that you may dive safely without having to worry as to whether your regulator will fail at any point in during your immersions.

It is important that extra care is taken with this piece of scuba gear so that it is maintained to tip top condition.

Besides, it also makes sense that you will want to take care of your scuba regulator so that it will give you many years of dependable service.  Do not worry, it just takes a few easy steps to scuba regulator maintenance.

So let is begin...

Cleaning your scuba regulator

After each dive, it is especially important that you keep your regulator free from any sand or grit. The only way to ensure this is by soaking your regulator followed by a good rinse under running water.

There are however some important points to keep in mind when soaking and rinsing your regulator:

• Make sure that the dust cover is secure and firmly in place to keep water out of your first stage. However before doing this, be sure that the dust cover is totally dry and free of any sand or grit. Just giving a few air burst from your tank directly on the cover should do the job.

• During the rinsing process, avoid using high pressure water. Use only a gentle stream of water though the first and second stages.

• Water should be flushed through any holes in the first stage (except the high pressure inlet covered by the dust cap, of course) and inside the second stage mouthpiece.

• Also be sure not to depress the purge button when soaking or rinsing your regulator because this would open the second stage inlet valve therefore enabling water to flow into the first stage.

• A great maintenance technique you can do is once you have rinsed your regulator, is briefly attach it to your scuba tank and purge it to blow out any water which may have accidentally entered the first stage.

Storing and packing your scuba regulator

Properly storing your regulator an important part in scuba regulator maintenance. Be sure to dry the scuba regulator thoroughly before you store it. Avoid storing it directly under sunlight as this may deteriorate any rubber components.

To prevent damage to the hoses, when storing the regulator, pack the hoses in such a way as to form large loose loops rather than tight ones. It is also better to store your regulator lying flat on the ground preferably on piece of plastic sheet rather than to hang it by one of the stages or the hose.

Servicing

Part of your scuba regulator maintenance includes taking it for a professional servicing at least once every year. Be sure to take it to a qualified technician who knows what he is doing.

That is about it. With proper care and scuba diving regulator maintenance, this piece of scuba gear should provide you with many years of safe diving.