Air Quality

[travelwell72]

is all air refill quality the same?
ever had a refill and you felt a little off and the taste of the air is stronger than the refill from another shop?
i get my air from my usual dive shop but this week, they were on holiday so i had to get my air from another source.
after the first dive from this shop, i felt a little woozy and so did my wife.
refilled the tanks and went diving the next day, and that was even worse, the taste that was left in our mouths was very strong indeed.
i had a headache and was really woozy for the rest of the day.
We didn't dive very deep on both days, 10m was the deepest depth we went.
i'm glad my regular shop is back from their Bali holiday that's all i know.
would like to know whether there is concrete findings that compressors etc delivery diff quality air.
btw ears were fine on both days no prob equalising.

[Lone Frogman]

There should be no taste to your air. If there is, I would not dive with it. If its your tanks I would open them up to look for traces of oil and clean if needed.

[TJDiver]

+1 on what Frogman said. If you ever notice a strange taste to your air, don't dive that tank. And, definitely don't do another dive from that air source if you felt woozy after the first dive. I would also notify the shop where you got your tanks filled...might just save someone else's life.

It's not necessarily the compressor itself, but more likely the setup...air intake too close to the exhaust on gas driven systems...air intake too close to some other source of contamination on electric systems...etc.

[neugierig]

i know some resorts here in the philippines where the air tastes a bit coconut-y. in this case, its not such a bad thing.

[travelwell72]

Originally Posted by TJDiver

+1 on what Frogman said. If you ever notice a strange taste to your air, don't dive that tank. And, definitely don't do another dive from that air source if you felt woozy after the first dive. I would also notify the shop where you got your tanks filled...might just save someone else's life.

It's not necessarily the compressor itself, but more likely the setup...air intake too close to the exhaust on gas driven systems...air intake too close to some other source of contamination on electric systems...etc.

Bingo, i think you're right...
it must'n be the compressor but the air intake
because this particular setup works like this
i take the tanks to the wharf where a little boat picks them up and goes to their main boat where they refill the air.
There are many, i mean many surrounding boats in very close proximity to where the refilling compressor is.
both my tank and my wife's tank are brand new, had a total of 10 dives with these tanks and this is the first time we've both experienced this sort of result from diving and it just so happens that this is the first time we've ever used this boat guy.
i'll have to go onboard the boat where they refill tanks and will update you fellas on what i find out.
thanks for the possible causes btw

[navyhmc]

From your description, you definitely got bad air. One thing I have always done before I get a fill someplace is look at their compressor. If the area is cluttered and there's a lot of oil on the compressor and the filters have a bit of dirt on them, I will go elsewhere-even if it means missing a dive or two, not worth my life!!! If the compressor looks in good shape and the filters look good, then it's good to go!

[travelwell72]

Originally Posted by navyhmc

From your description, you definitely got bad air. One thing I have always done before I get a fill someplace is look at their compressor. If the area is cluttered and there's a lot of oil on the compressor and the filters have a bit of dirt on them, I will go elsewhere-even if it means missing a dive or two, not worth my life!!! If the compressor looks in good shape and the filters look good, then it's good to go!

that's good advice and i'll be doing the same from now on ..

one thing though, there is still about 60 bars in each of our tanks..
empty all the bad air at the shop and then refill immediately
or is there some sorta special procedure?

[No Misses]

Originally Posted by travelwell72

one thing though, there is still about 60 bars in each of our tanks..
empty all the bad air at the shop and then refill immediately
or is there some sorta special procedure?

Yes, drain the cylinders. You may want to leave ~40 PSI until you get to the shop to show them that the cylinder is not empty (Some LDS are real sticklers for this).

Ask to see the test results at your fill station. Here in the states, they must have thier "air" tested.

My LDS posts thier test reults online and in the store. http://fillexpress.com/library/testresults.pdf

[navyhmc]

Also, drain the tank slowly-very slow hiss. It won't get as cold as fast. Fast tank empty = possible condensation on the inside = bad for tank! = tank needs to be tumbled = $$$$$$!

[inventor]

Yeah, I know it's supposed to be two cents, things are tough all over.

Anyway, as for bad air, I'd have them vis'ed. If you've got any oil in there, it will continue to cause woozy and wierd smells until it is gone, read as 'until you've inhaled all of it'. But at least have the shop empty completely, put in a little air ( to dilute the remaining contaminated air), release that air, then fill. Just my thoughts.