Tank fill run-around… kinda long
So I go for my first tank fill, and head to Sports Chalet to do it. (It’s a Chalet tank) The girl in scuba is nice, fills it no questions, go home, shoot more. A couple days go by, need another top-off. I noticed a closer Chalet, so I head there.
The scuba guys start looking the tank over, like they’re looking for something. They ask me where the ‘visual’ sticker is.. I say I don’t know, nor what it is. They give me a hour tutorial about it, pulling diving cards from their wallets and stuff. For a minute there I think they’re telling me I gotta take a diving class to shoot a freakin’ air gun.
They assure me I don’t have to do that, but I have to take the tank to a scuba shop where they take it apart, have a look see inside, and if all is good, they will issue me a visual sticker. Crap. More downtime, driving, and money. I tell them the other Chalet filled it no problem, so why can’t you. They ask me which store. I tell them, and they call the other store, telling them they’re not supposed to do that without the sticker. Crap, now I’m thinking I won’t be able to fill it there anymore either.
The hydro stamp shows it was just done last month. I called a few people who shoot about this, and they all said they could fill it within one year of hydro stamp date without this ‘visual’ sticker. I call the scuba guy back to tell him what everyone is telling me. He doesn’t budge, and basically says that whomever told me this has their heads up their ass, and woud be glad to talk to anyone who told me this.
I called a tank distributor, and a friendly lady gave me 2 phone #’s here in the Valley that would fill my tank the way it is no problem, and would probably slap the sticker on it as well, but I thought I’d give the 1st Chalet who filled it a second chance, since it’s still closer than these scuba shops. I was hoping the girl who first filled it was there, but she wasn’t. So this guy starts rotating the tank around, obviously looking for the damn sticker… Crap.
I tell him my story, he see’s the hydro date, and fills it up. We BS while it’s filling, and he goes.. “You’ll need this” and hands me the visual sticker free of charge, and since there was still 2500 psi still in the tank, doesn’t charge me at all for 500 psi. All I had to do was sign a waiver, promising to use the air for anything but scuba diving.
Why couldn’t the guys at the other store do this? He gave me a copy of the waiver to show those guys, and told me to have them call him if there was any problems. Very nice guy. Would really be nice if Sports Chalet branches would all get on the same page so this run around doesn’t happen to others.
So… thanks to Recardo, who has a licence to hydro tanks himself, I’m set. Sorry for this novel…
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I am a diver and this thread scares the shit out of me
There is a lot of really bad and dangerous info getting spewed so far.
Hydro is a DOT requirement that tests the integrity of the tank to hold a pressurized gas. Different tanks have different hydro requirements(generally 3-5 years). There is a VE (Visual Eddy) (Check me on this) that is required on some aluminum tanks at hydro.
Hydro does not insure that the cylinder is safe/clean for breathing air, or increased O2 percentages used in some SCUBA applications.
Hydro is LAW.
VIP is a Visual Inspection of the interior of the tank and valve for problems relating to Breathing Air Use.
VIP is an industry regulated requirement, there is no law that says it is required.
This is life and death shit for divers and not something to be taken lightly. By placing a VIP sticker on a SCUBA tank you are certifying that that tank has been inspected and is suitable for breathing air use.
The guy that gave you the sticker should be shot. That is a huge liability he has placed on you and the buisness he works for.
What can you do to avoid this problem?
Build a relationship with the shop where you fill your tank. Make it very clear that this tank will never be used for diving. I would put stickers indicating that the tank is “Not Suitable For Breathing Air” in big bold letters on both sides of the tank, then there is no reason for them to turn you away.
What it boils down to is that the shop has every right to make what ever requirement that they want for tanks they fill, if you make them happy, they will work with you. If they won’t go elsewhere.
Do not put that sticker on that tank. If you already did, scrape it off. You don’t want to kill anyone do you?
Please remember these tanks are made for divers and are life support equipment.
Rusty
Make their life hell and file a formal complaint with the head of the Sport Chalets, tell them that unless they want a liability lawsuit they should properly train their employees… 😈
Find the info that Akula posted in writing in a dive brochure or something, get names and use them in your complaint, unless you make a fuss they will continue to make your filling experience hell…
Thanks for your reply ACULA, you’ve said what many others have told me. I’ll take my tank and waiver copy to them the next time I need a fill, but if they continue to be dicks when I tell them what I now know I’ll just opt for the longer drive, and take my business elsewhere.
Saugus; If a tank is within a year of hydrostatic testing no VIP (Visual Inspection Program) sticker is required. The fella at the second Sports Chalet had his head up his ass. AKULA
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They do visuals at Sport Chalet. That guy was being an ass. I know because that is who does mine. If it needs a visual drain all the air from it and take it in. I think they charge $5 for the visual and then they will fill it. I leave it over night.
Visuals are a common thing on aluminum tanks and they do it at the store. In fact I leave it with them and they send it out for hydro also. They are a scuba store and can take care of all of that stuff.