You're taught in your OW to service your gear yearly... and that it should be done by a qualified technician. That's good advice, but there's nothing stopping you from becoming a qualified technician. I teach a class for Hog and Deep 6 regs.
If you take your regs to a technician, you should consider doing the following:
$250 seems quite high. Did you know that price when you dropped it off?
- Present a list of issues
- Leaks
- Noises
- Time since last service
- How it breathes
- What you expect out of your service
- Agree on a price up front!
- What you'll get
- Phone numbers if there's an unforeseen problem.
- Maximum price
- Trade in value
- Agree on a time frame.
- Ask for the technician's qualifications.
- ASK FOR YOUR PARTS BACK!!!
- When you pick your reg, ask them to put it on a tank.
- Ask to see the IP (Intermediate Pressure)
- It should be between 130 and 150 for most regs.
- It shouldn't creep up
- It should fall a bit when you breathe on your reg.
- Dive your reg BEFORE you go on a big trip.
- A pool is just fine.
- Check for noises and leaks
I didn't know what the price was going to be when I dropped it. I dont have a lot of options for a dive shop here in town, though I know I can send it away for service. I just don't want to spend that much every year, though I also don't want to die, so there is that.