Frequently Asked Questions

AirTech provides service for more than just regulators and BCDs! Please view our full list and contact us if you don’t see something you need!

The quick answer: it depends.

Some computers are user-changeable while others are not, though it appears easy to do at home. A lot of times, if you break open a dive computer at home to try and replace the battery, the manufacturer will void your warranty. If you have questions about which computers are user-changeable or not, let us know! Some computers will need to be sent off to the manufacturer for battery replacements. That means the service of that computer could take beyond our normal turnaround time. If you think you have one of these computers, ask us, and we’ll walk you through that process. If you are already sending in your equipment, feel free to send your computer! We can test the battery while it’s here and check that it is pairing to the transmitter or any other troubleshooting.

We suggest leaving your computer over a weeknight or sending it in with your regular equipment service.  

Otherwise, you’ll have to schedule a service time if you need to wait for your battery to be changed in-store. When our technicians are in the middle of servicing equipment, we try hard not to interrupt them. So while the actual battery change might not take too long, the interruption and resuming of work takes a lot out of our technicians’ time.

Yes! We share a store floor with a scuba store, Gypsy Divers, in Gypsy Divers Aquatic Center. Feel free to come on in anytime the service center is open and talk with us! If you need to have your equipment shipped back to you, we can always arrange that. 3651 Bastion Ln. Raleigh NC, 27604

No! We’ll take care of everything for you! If you have any questions about your regulator’s warranty or future servicing, let us know and we’ll walk you through it.

Ask us! Call or email us and we’ll let you know what information we would need to check. Generally, it’ll be the regulator’s serial number, your last name, proof of original ownership, and service receipts.

Ask us! We have a list of manufacturers that we no longer support on our website. For older equipment or equipment you no longer see marketed, call us! If you know the name of the regulator, that’s helpful but not needed. Email info@airtechscubaservices.com a photo of the regulator’s 1st and 2nd stage, or BCD, and we’ll let you know!

It would count as 2 stages. When we service a BCD with a power inflator, the power inflator has a service kit we use. We also check all the dump valves and ensure the BCD can pass a dunk test and hold air for an additional 24 hours. The alternate air source’s kit will replace the need for an inflator kit, but we will still service the rest of the BCD as we would any BCD.

Yes! While it does take up weight and space in the box, BCDs have annual service kits and requirements just like your regulator! Your BCD will count as a stage and uses the manufacturer’s service kit, so the price will be based on your manufacturer’s part kits plus a normal stage of labor. While in the shop, we will test to ensure it holds air properly, test dump valves, and service and test your power inflator or alternate air source.

The average turnaround time is 2 weeks. However, please check our ticket system homepage for the current turnaround time.

We warranty our service within the year it was serviced, or within the first 100 dives after it was serviced, unless it’s a Poseidon regulator. If something happens with your equipment within that time, send it in! We’ll pay for the shipping to and from our location and service the equipment. Further, if you have to pay additional and unexpected charges for rental equipment because of this failure, we will pick up those charges. This warranty does not apply to any equipment used professionally or commercially, including rental equipment.

Due to our extensive experience servicing Poseidon regulators, we’ve had to implement unique procedures for how we receive and service Poseidon regulators.

1. For every Poseidon regulator we receive, we’ll perform an incoming inspection and provide the customer with a quote every time. This includes labor, required part kits, and any extra parts we deem necessary to replace. This quote must be approved before any work will begin.
2. All Poseidon regulators have a minimum of a 3-week in-house turn around.
3. We’ve found that Poseidon regulators require a certain level of care and therefore our normal return policy does not apply to Poseidon regulators. After the 1^st post-service test, the regulators will no longer be supported under our year warranty.

One of the main ways an issue with the first stage presents itself is with a failed second stage. Therefore, a leaky, or otherwise failed, second stage might actually be a first-stage issue. Unfortunately, the two second-stages on a regulator are usually set at a different cracking effort, or function differently. So, one second-stage working and one second-stage failing doesn’t allow for an easy diagnosis.  

To allow for the best diagnosis of an issue, we want to see the regulator system as a whole.

Once a year or every 100 dives (depending on the Manufacturer’s suggestion). If you’re under a manufacturer warranty, you’ll need to file through us and keep proof of annual services done.

Most manufacturers suggest that hoses be replaced every 4-6 years. If you aren’t sure how old your hoses are, a lot of hoses are stamped with a date. We check each hose that arrives in our facility and suggest when hoses should be replaced. We won’t make any replacements unless the customer approves them.  

If the hose is old but does not show signs of a failure, we will tag the hose, but leave it installed. If the hose does show signs of failure, such as a hole, we will remove it from the system, place it in a red bag, and suggest a replacement.  

It is very important to take these recommendations seriously as a failed hose is hard to account for underwater and would often lead to a shared-air ascent with a buddy.

We suggest storing your equipment in a temperature-controlled location that is clean. For example, inside a closet vs in your garage.

We can provide an estimate based on the number of stages being serviced and those stages’ part kits. Part kit prices vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so to give you the best estimate, we’ll need to know what regulator you have specifically. If you aren’t sure, you can always send us pictures! Email info@airtechscubaservices.com pictures of your equipment.

You can ship it in however you wish! We accept USPS, UPS, and FedEx. We ship back via UPS and charges for shipping and handling will be calculated based on the box’s weight, size, and destination. UPS does charge more for residential locations compared to commercial. Shipping to your house may be more than shipping from a UPS facility or drop-off center. We will provide the tracking code via our ticket system upon completion.

If you wish to purchase insurance through UPS for your package, please let us know and we’ll calculate the cost. Or provide a return shipping label with your package.

If you provide a shipping label for FedEx or USPS, we have frequent drop-offs from both and can return your package via those carriers.

The simple answer is yes. If you are dropping it off, it seems easier to leave all components attached. However, space in AirTech is limited, and we like to leave it for the equipment being serviced. If you are shipping it, this would also save on shipping.

No! Please leave your regulator as you would while diving. This way we can test and service your equipment. While the most important parts are the stages that we service, the hoses that connect them are just as important when diving! We’ll not only use them to test the system, but also make sure the hoses are all functioning properly. If you do wish to only ship us one stage, call us, and we’ll discuss your needs.

That’s up to you! The only packing material we ask that you do not use is packing peanuts or other messy materials. Some people use their regulator bag as padding and nestle it into their BCD. Then protect the BCD and power inflator or alternate air source in paper, bubble wrap, or other padding.

Throw them away. These are generally o-rings, springs, or other items that experience wear and tear with the usual usage. These are the items that are a part of the service kits provided by the manufacturer. The manufacturer has deemed these items as needing to be replaced within their time frame and we’ll always replace all items in the manufacturer service kits. The bags will include any parts beyond standard manufacturer kits that needed to be replaced. These bags are sent back simply for you to see what was done. It’s not useful beyond that point and can be discarded.

When we ship/hand your equipment back there are a few things handed back in the bag/box. We attach your itemized invoice to your service ticket. The invoice includes a quantitative breakdown including the price for service by the technicians, all the service kits, and any extra parts that were needed for service. It also includes any notes taken by the technician regarding the stage of the regulator, anything noticed during servicing, or anything that had to be replaced for proper function. We also attach a ‘used parts’ bag to each regulator set with all of the items that had been replaced during service.

Whatever you want, just don’t dive it! The red bag suggests that it is no longer suitable for diving. We only return it so that you can see the parts that were replaced.

You pay either when you pick it up or before we ship it back. We’ll notify you when the equipment has been serviced. If service gear is being shipped, we’ll confirm your mailing address, review the invoice, and take a form of payment.

Not necessarily. This course does not qualify you for any certifications. To become a regulator technician, you would need to go through a certification course with each manufacturer you wish to service and work for a store that is a dealer.

No. Please do not open your regulator. If you ever have any issues with your regulator, even if you believe you know the solution, bring it to a certified technician. Many manufacturers will not follow through with warranties due to non-certified interference.

Our online form is a great way to provide feedback! We greatly appreciate all feedback we receive. It will help us improve the course for future students.

We recommend buying and reading through Regulator Savvy from Scuba Tools. However, this is not a requirement. For more information on the book, please visit their site.

The course is designed to give you a strong working knowledge of the basic theory and application of regulators and the introduction to common scuba, special application, diagnostic, and tuning tools. This includes: a typical service procedure, the breakdown of typical parts, types of first and second-stage regulators, diagnostic measurements, and typical sounds heard when testing equipment.
The course is followed by hands-on disassembly and assembly of different types of regulators, as well as a demonstration on testing and fine-tuning a regulator.

Yes! We have experience servicing equipment for miliary units and rescue teams. If possible, we suggest sending the equipment in during the winter months when AirTech is at its slowest. This way we can service the whole team’s equipment at once and return it to you in a speedy manner.

Yes! We have several technicians that are certified in Ocean Reef, OTS, and AGA full face masks. They have experience diving full face masks and troubleshooting communication units and systems. Please contact us with your dive team’s equipment needs and we’ll discuss turn around times and testing procedures.

When you open a new ticket on our ticket system, you’ll fill out your contact information and for “Help Topic”, you’ll select “NOAA Diving Program ONLY”. This will prompt you to fill out a series of questions that are specific to the NOAA-issued equipment. If you’re submitting tickets for multiple teammates, you can submit all the different tickets under one email address with different divers noted via the “Customer name or WO#” field.

The shipping labels to send the equipment to us will be provided by the NOAA dive team supervisor. We’ll get the return labels from them and return the equipment once it is finished.

If you wish to send your own personal equipment along with the NOAA equipment, you may create a regular “Scuba Service Submission” ticket and we’ll contact you for payment separate from the NOAA equipment.