When you choose to buy your own scuba diving equipment, you should maintain and take good care of it regularly. Actually your safety and enjoyment depend on your gear, so if you neglect it you will surely shorten the life of it.

Scuba regulators are one of the most important pieces of scuba diving equipment, as they are considered your way of breathing underwater and are also essential as your lifeline, so you need to know how to care of your scuba regulator by regularly cleaning it, as it’s crucial to its maintenance.

This article will be your guide to learn a few steps to keep your gear in good condition. Make it a routine and remember that it will be worth the cost and your efforts.

6 Steps to Taking Care of Your Scuba Regulator

To know how to properly care of your regulator as a scuba diver, here are 6 steps to follow:

• Taking your regulator off.
• Rinsing your regulator.
• Soaking your regulator.
• Running a steam through the regulator.
• Drying your regulator 
• Getting your regulator serviced

Taking Your Regulator Off

Take your regulator off your scuba tank then blow the water off the regulator using the air from your tank or with a dry towel to ensure you dried the dustcap. 

Also blow air from your scuba tank into the first stage of your regulator to dry it properly before sealing it tightly with the dustcap. you should have absolutely dried first stage.

Rinsing Your Regulator

This is considered the most important step to maintain your regulator. whether you have been scuba diving in fresh water or salt water, the first thing to do is to rinse your regulator off with fresh water.

Soaking Your Regulator

Ensure to soak your regulator in warm water, not hot one. The importance of this step lies in dissolving any dried salt crystals or other deposits that may exist in the interior. 

While soaking the regulator, it’s better to slosh it around and work the levers underwater to loosen any stubborn particles or even push any buttons. But ensure not to touch the purge as it isn’t a good idea that the water follow through the hose and back into the interior of the first stage assembly.

Running a Steam through the Regulator

Run a stream of freshwater through all the open ports and The chambers of the regulator in order to get rid of remaining particles, if found. Take off the yoke screw, then rinse and screw threads with running water. Ensure to keep the dustcap secured over the first stage.

Drying Your Regulator 

Allow your regulator to dry properly away from direct sunlight to protect the rubber parts. After drying, store it in a cool dry place and ensure that all the hoses are neatly arranged and there are no tanglements.

Getting Your Regulator Serviced

The Last step on how to care of your regulator is to get it professionally serviced. It’s preferred to get service by a trained technician annually as recommended by most manufacturers, but if you use it commercially or extensively you should service it every six months or at least every 50 dives.