How Often Should I Service my BCD?
BCDs or buoyancy control devices are lifelines for scuba divers. These allow divers to control their buoyancy. BCDs play a key role in a diver’s ability to descend in a dive, spend time at the bottom, and then ascend.
BCDs or buoyancy compensating devices should be serviced at least annually. If you are a frequent diver, over 100 dives a year, your equipment should be serviced more regularly. After every dive, it is important to clean and store your BCD properly.
Diving is a fun and safe sport. It is made even safer by ensuring your equipment works as it is designed to. Continue reading for information on servicing and cleaning your BCD. Then you will be prepared to dive at every opportunity.
Servicing Your BCD
All your diving equipment needs to be serviced, cleaned, and properly stored. The waters in which you dive, whether it’s the saltiness of the ocean or chlorinated pools, contain elements that can corrode and clog your equipment. Scuba gear that is not properly cared for can be unsafe to use.
BCDs must be regularly serviced because they are an integral component of your diving gear. This equipment controls your buoyancy in the water, which is your ability to stay afloat. Buoyancy compensating devices let you ascend, descend, and stay neutral or float at the desired level. Without a working BCD, you would not have that control over your diving experience.
Annually divers trek to their reputable service shop with their regulators. Many manufacturers stipulate regulators should be serviced once a year or after 80 to 100 dives. Since you cannot use your BCD without a regulator, having both pieces of equipment serviced at the same time makes the most sense. Your BCD and regulator are of equal importance.
Parts of your BCDs can lose effectiveness from usage. An annual service should include a complete dismantling of the BCD. The inside and outside of the BCD should be thoroughly cleaned and examined. The inspection should focus on checking for cracks, leaks, and any defects in the equipment.
Reassembly of the unit is included in the annual service. An inspection of the durability of the straps should be performed after the unit is repaired. And a thorough leak test should be performed as the last step. This will ensure your unit to safe to use.
An authorized technician will replace all warranty items following the manufacturer’s recommendations. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directives to ensure your warranty remains in effect.
Cleaning Your BCD
In addition to the annual service, you should clean your BCD after each use. Regardless of the water in which you dive, your BCD must be washed after each use. Each type of water creates its own potential issues with your equipment. Routinely cleansing your BCD after each dive is well worth the time and effort.
Thorough Rinse
Freshwater must be used to rinse the inside and outside of your BCD. With a hose, spray all the crevices of your BCD. Get the salt, chlorine, or silt out of the nooks and crannies. If you do not have access to a hose, fill a large bucket or tub with water and remove all the sediment. Then run water on all the buttons and valves to remove any residual debris.
Clean the Inflator Hose
Rinse the inflator hose with fresh water to remove any salt, chlorine, or silt that will damage the hose. Run the water through the hose and into the bladder. Be sure to first activate the deflator button to open the valve.
Inside the Bladder
Drain any remaining water from the bladder by holding it upside down. Press the deflator button to ensure all water is removed. Then run a hose with fresh water into the bladder. Shake the BCD to eliminate water from the dive from the side of the bladder. Drain and repeat.
Dry and Store
Remove the weights from the pockets. Partially inflate the BCD with the valve facing downward. Hang your equipment, ideally, a BCD hanger should be used. Do not hang the BCD in direct sunlight. But do hang it in a cool and dry location.
Poorly Maintained BCDs
At the end of a dive, you might be thinking, I would rather grab a beer than clean my equipment. You might consider waiting until the next day. Stay in the habit of cleaning your equipment at the end of each dive. Your scuba gear must be in good working order to keep you safe and let you enjoy your dives.
Your BCD provides for an easier diving experience. Since it controls your ascending and descending, you will not tire as readily. At chosen depths, you can float, with less effort. Your BCD also regulates your decompression, a key safety concern. Therefore, poorly maintained BCDs will negatively affect your ability to dive.
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Before Purchasing Your BCD
You can make your steps to maintain your scuba gear easier if you consider warranties before your purchase. If you are buying new or used equipment, both might have warranties to protect your gear.
Read the Warranty
Look for and note in your warranty how often you need to service your equipment to maintain it. Read to see if the manufacturer pays for replacement parts. If so, is it by the age of the equipment or the number of dive hours?
Authorized Dealers
Check with the dive shop and make sure they are an authorized dealer for the equipment you are thinking of purchasing. If the manufacturer does not consider the shop an authorized dealer, you may void any warranty on your equipment. Then all service and material costs could be out of pocket for you.
Manuals
Yes, you really should read the manuals that are supplied with your equipment. In the manual, you will find information on the frequency of service. Some manufacturers will also add suggestions on how to best maintain the gear.
Paperwork
Keep all your records where you can find them. In your files, you should keep the original receipt of your purchase. Note on the receipt serial numbers of your gear. When your equipment is serviced, retain that paperwork as well. Any warranty information should also be in the file.
Related Questions
What is the difference between a BCD and a BC?
There is no true difference between a BCD and a BC. BC is an abbreviation for buoyancy compensator, BCD is the acronym for a buoyancy control device. Either abbreviation for the equipment is acceptable.
Do you need a BCD to dive?
Yes, for safety reasons sporting scuba divers should always dive with a BCD or buoyancy control device. Sometimes commercial divers will dive without a BCD; however, they are tethered to others on the surface who are controlling their ascending and descending.
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a legal expert or medical professional to address your specific needs.