Northwest Dive Club

That's not that far out of line really. Is that just the hydro, or is that a vip and a fill too?

Nwbrewer wrote:That's not that far out of line really. Is that just the hydro, or is that a vip and a fill too?

I don't know for sure. All I know for sure is that a shop told me they pay $5.00 per hydro and charge the customer $40 per hydro (I don't think he BS'ing me). I know one shop I used to go to charged for both the Hydro and VIP, I don't remember what they charged but it was upwards of $45-$50 per tank. I am all for a shop making a living but if I owned tanks, $35.00 would be a few air fills or a couple of Nitrox fills. Being as the facility for testing is right here in town and I can take a tank there myself then why wouldn't I?

Just for reference - Fire King, the place that does most of the hydros for dive shops here in Seattle, charges $30 per tank. Typically a dive shop will uplift that by $10.

BillZ wrote:Just for reference - Fire King, the place that does most of the hydros for dive shops here in Seattle, charges $30 per tank. Typically a dive shop will uplift that by $10.

Everett Carbonics is $25, right in the ballpark.

And for $30 you get just the hydro, no vis or fill.

Search fire and safety in any market as most of them do hydro's.
In the Portland/Vancouver area they are usually $20 per tank walking in off the street.

lynchpit2 wrote:Search fire and safety in any market as most of them do hydro's.
In the Portland/Vancouver area they are usually $20 per tank walking in off the street.

Many fire extinguisher companies only do "low pressure" which doesn't mean 2400+ psi it means max 200 psi in DOT lingo.

Here's the list of DOT approved hydrotesters by state:
http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/portal/site/PH ... d07898RCRD

You can call any of the high pressure ones. BEWARE if they are not accustomed to the "roundout" procedure required by some galvanized and 3442 psi tanks they will probably fail and you'll be SOL. That $40 will look pretty cheap...

Best thing to do is find out where your shop takes them and then just bring them there yourself. I doubt its $5. You will need a shop visual, a new tank to valve-O-ring, and a fill afterwards.

Local place in Yakima that does all the fire department hydros charges $20, just to give you a reference on price.

US Cylinder in Vancouver, Sanderson Fire and Safety downtown Portland and United Fire and Safety on MLK will all do hydro's for $20 and are aware of the special procedures for galvanized tanks as well as checking the REE # to give a tank a + rating on the hydro.

lynchpit2 wrote:US Cylinder in Vancouver, Sanderson Fire and Safety downtown Portland and United Fire and Safety on MLK will all do hydro's for $20 and are aware of the special procedures for galvanized tanks as well as checking the REE # to give a tank a + rating on the hydro.

Good info thanks.