Re: Can breath through a reg when not connected to air tank - reason to be worried

In article <ef2c6e78.0403140615.221c1bc0@posting.google.com >, Ed
<ed.barrett@bigfoot.com> wrote:

#I am off on a diving holiday (yippee!) the week after next. I have
#just got my equipment out to check it all looks ok, see if anything is
#fraying, etc.
#
#The reg rig is obviously not attached to a tank but I seem to remember
#that you can't breathe through them in this condition. That is the
#case with the octopus but on the main reg, if I breathe in real hard I
#can get air through it.
#
#Is this anything to be worried about? A symptom of anything untoward?
#
#Thanks in advance
#


If the dust cap is in place on the first stage, something's leaking,
probably the exhaust valve in the second stage. If the dust cap isn't
in place, you can usually pull a little air through the regulator by
breathing hard.

An exhaust valve that only leaks when you breath hard against it isn't
a huge deal, but it means it's time to for an anual service (it also
means the reg might breathe a little wet). Persoanlly (and remember
that personal opinions will vary considerably), I'd have it serviced if
there's time (some shops can turn it around in a couple of days. Some
take weeks). If not, I wouldn't worry too much about it, knowing
there's a reasonable chance the rental reg you'd get will have the same
problem.

(x-posted to rec.scuba.equipment)

Alan

"Alan Street" <alan@nonono_irsi.com> wrote in message
news:140320040742309846%alan@nonono_irsi.com...
> In article <ef2c6e78.0403140615.221c1bc0@posting.google.com >, Ed
> <ed.barrett@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>
> #I am off on a diving holiday (yippee!) the week after next. I have
> #just got my equipment out to check it all looks ok, see if anything is
> #fraying, etc.
> #
> #The reg rig is obviously not attached to a tank but I seem to remember
> #that you can't breathe through them in this condition. That is the
> #case with the octopus but on the main reg, if I breathe in real hard I
> #can get air through it.
> #
> #Is this anything to be worried about? A symptom of anything untoward?
> #
> #Thanks in advance
> #
>
>
> If the dust cap is in place on the first stage, something's leaking,
> probably the exhaust valve in the second stage. If the dust cap isn't
> in place, you can usually pull a little air through the regulator by
> breathing hard.
>
> An exhaust valve that only leaks when you breath hard against it isn't
> a huge deal, but it means it's time to for an anual service (it also
> means the reg might breathe a little wet). Persoanlly (and remember
> that personal opinions will vary considerably), I'd have it serviced if
> there's time (some shops can turn it around in a couple of days. Some
> take weeks). If not, I wouldn't worry too much about it, knowing
> there's a reasonable chance the rental reg you'd get will have the same
> problem.
>
> (x-posted to rec.scuba.equipment)

You also want to find where the air is coming from. A mushroom valve can be
the problem if you are sucking real hard.