Scuba diving is a wonderful experience to remember. Yet, it could be very dangerous if your equipment\u2019s not properly checked. And what\u2019s more important to check and maintain than your scuba tanks? That\u2019s how you\u2019d be breathing, after all.<\/p>\n
Filling your scuba tanks, although easy, is a very serious task with many potential hazards. That\u2019s why if you\u2019re attempting to do it by yourself, you have to carefully read and cautiously apply all the steps in this guide. That way, you can be sure of your safety over and under the water.<\/p>\n
Want to know more about how to fill scuba tanks in detail? Stay with us.<\/p>\n
So without further ado, let\u2019s dig deeper into this process with all its fine details:<\/p>\n
Inspecting the tank before attempting to fill it is the most crucial step. That\u2019s because a damaged tank means air<\/a> leakage within it. Additionally, if you go into the water with a cracked tank, the crack might get wider<\/a> under high pressure leading to fatalities.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to check your tank:<\/p>\n Check any markings, dents, or changes on the tank’s surface. In addition, have a look over all the valves and the gauges for any unexpected complications.<\/p>\n If you observe any considerable damage, you shouldn\u2019t use the tank anymore.<\/p>\n For the tank to remain in its optimum condition, it has to stay dry. If there\u2019s anything inside, you shouldn\u2019t use that tank.<\/p>\n To check this dry condition of the tank, gently shake it and be all ears for any sounds that might come up. If there\u2019s a sound of a moving liquid, then you have to get rid of the tank.<\/p>\n Putting the tank in a cold water bath will furtherly determine if there\u2019s any leakage. At this step, you have to Look closely at the water for any bubbles. Moreover, the sight of bubbles means that there are holes in the tank.<\/p>\n Also, the cold water bath cools the tank efficiently for the filling stage. As in the filling stage, the tank will have hot air coming inside of it due to the high pressure. Therefore, if you don\u2019t cool the tank before filling it, accidents might occur.<\/p>\n You have to release any extra air in the tank before refilling because filling over existing air<\/a> will make the tank strained. Strained tanks might wear out more quickly, in addition to being sensitive to any external blows.<\/p>\n Therefore, any tank filled with over 10 pounds of pressure should be rid of its excess air before refilling. To release the air, open the valve slowly and let it drain at a slow pace.<\/p>\n For this step, You might need to attach a gauge to the tank to be able to monitor the pressure level inside.<\/p>\n To fill the tank, you\u2019ll need an air compressor, but not the usual compressors that you can find at any hardware store. Instead, you need a special one made specifically for scuba tanks.<\/p>\n Scuba compressors<\/a> are different as they provide high levels of pressure in the range of 3,000 psi (3,000 pounds). Moreover, they contain filters that dispose of any harmful components inside the tank and replace them with clean, breathable air.<\/p>\n Before filling, you have to set the compressor at the required pressure and size settings. Furthermore, if the compressor doesn\u2019t contain an automatic shut-off<\/a> feature, then you have to stay near to shut it down when the pressure is enough.<\/p>\nCheck for Any Visible Damages<\/h4>\n
Shake the Tank Gently and Listen Carefully for Any Unexpected Sounds<\/h4>\n
Put the Tank in a Cold Water Bath<\/h4>\n
2.\u00a0\u00a0 Remove Any Extra Air in the Tank<\/h3>\n
3.\u00a0\u00a0 Set Up the Air Compressor<\/h3>\n
4.\u00a0\u00a0 Attach the Compressor to the Tank<\/h3>\n