Always wash the BCD after each dive with fresh
water, flushing both inside and out, and between the inner and outer bags if it
is a double bag construction. Never use solvents (such as alcohol or paint
thinner) since they may attack the fabrics, bladders, glues or fasteners.
Fresh water is all that is normally needed to
clean your BCD or you can use a commercial BCD conditioner in the final rinse
to inhibit the growth of mold or mildew and to keep the BCD fresh and
odour-free.
Cleaning is especially recommended immediately
after use in a chlorinated pool, as chlorinated water will quickly break down
rubbers and plastics. Most manufacturers also recommend regular an annual
servicing consisting of cleaning, inspection and lubrication of specified
parts. In fact, many manufacturers offer limited lifetime warranties that
remain valid only if the BCD is serviced annually.
To clean BCD component parts, direct a stream of
water into the mouthpiece of the oral inflator valve, and drain the water back
thorough the mouth piece. If your BCD so allows, remove the over pressure
relief valve assembly and rinse all components. Because the over pressure
valves are low pressure valves, they have the potential of not completely
reseating. It is important to run fresh water through the bladder after every
dive and then inflate the unit with the valve positioned down so the water will
flush the valve as the valve actuates.
To drain the water from the BCD, reinstall the over
pressure relief valve, and orally inflate the vest. Turn the vest upside down
so that the drain hose is at the lowest point. Depress the inflator button and
squeeze the vest. The sudden rush of air should force the remaining water to
exit from the interior of the vest through the inflator hose.
Buoyancy compensators should be stored partially
inflated. Store the BCD with the hose on the downward side, so that residual
moisture drains to the hose assembly. Then after a day or two, depress the
inflator button to allow any residual water to drain.