11 Tips for Air Compressor Maintenance

Now that you've invested in an air compressor to run all of your air tools you're going to have to learn how to keep it up and running. Because the proper handyman's air compressors don't typically need daily upkeep, it's easy to forget about them and neglect their upkeep. This can be a costly oversight so it's vital for you to keep an eye on the following maintenance tips.

Maintenance Tip 1: Read and effect Your Air Compressor's Manual

Compressor Troubleshooting Guide

Nothing stops an air compressor faster than an owner who doesn't read the owner's manual. There's going to be some easy tips in there for you that will help you to get a nice long life out of your air compressor - easy stuff for you to do that you would never have opinion to do unless you read it. Plus, if you don't effect the rules in your air compressor by hand there's a opening that you'll void your warranty. That in itself should be adequate of an incentive to read the "flipping" manual.

Maintenance Tip 2: Drain The Moisture From The Tanks

The receiver tank collects moisture from the air that it's compressing - especially if you live in a humid climate. Most tanks have a valve for draining this moisture that accumulates and it's up to you to make sure that these are drained regularly. Before draining the water you should be sure to publish the air pressure from the tanks.

Maintenance Tip 3: Clean Intake Vents

If you force your air compressor to work too hard to intake air you're losing power on your compression. This will moderately degrade the ability of your tool. Be sure to keep your intake vent as clean as inherent and check them usually especially if you're working in a dusty or dirty environment.

Maintenance Tip 4: Tighten All Fasteners

Your air compressor's a running, vibrating machine and it will loosen its screws, nuts and bolts on a regular basis. Be sure to check these periodically and tighten them up if you find any that have jiggled loose.

Maintenance Tip 5: Check Hoses Regularly

Check all your hoses periodically as they are the veins of your air compressor. If they become cracked or corroded they could soon begin to leak and then put undue strain on the rest of your compressor's components. Be sure to check them and replace them if you find them cracked or damaged.

Maintenance Tip 6: Test the safety Shutdown System

Your air compressor may have a built in safety shut down. The function of this system is to shut off your compressor if it's getting too hot, or if the engine's oil pressure is too low. This test will help you ensure a longer chronic compressor.

Maintenance Tip 7: Check and turn Air Filters As Needed

A filthy air filter is only hurting your air compressor by allowing dirty air from the face in, plus forcing it to work harder to intake air. Check your filters usually and turn them if you consideration a heavy build up of dust and dirt. turn every six months or so if you use it infrequently.

Maintenance Tip 8: Clean the Fuel Tank

As with any machine you need to periodically clean out the fuel tank to ensure optimal operating conditions. You should look to clean out the machine on your air compressor once every year or so to take off any residual build up from the fuel. This will maintain the life of your engine.

Maintenance Tip 9: Check and turn the Compressor Oil

If you're running a compressor that uses oil you should be checking it on a daily basis to make sure that your machine is topped off. Then, every 500-1000 hours of use you should be changing this oil to ensure maximum functioning of your air compressor.

Maintenance Tip 10: turn the Separator Element

The separator element prevents the inordinate use of oil, but it has to be replace periodically. Keep your compressor in top condition by replacing the separator element every 1,000 hours of operation.

Maintenance Tip 11: Clean the Heat Exchangers

If your heat exchangers are dirty then they can't do their job, which is to sacrifice the operating temperatures of your air compressor. Clean them usually to keep your operating temperatures down and increase the life span of your air compressor.

By following the tips above you'll ensure a nice long life for your air compressor, plus the jobs that you use it for will go faster and more productively. A well maintained air compressor is a fabulous machine for any job site or workshop, so keep yours running smoothly.

11 Tips for Air Compressor Maintenance

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The Air Compressor Buying Guide For Air Compressor Newbies

You're probably shopping for an air compressor because you've heard about the power of air tools over galvanic tools. If it's not more torque and higher Rpms you're looking for then maybe it's the easy interchange between tools - practically as uncomplicated as plugging the tool into an outlet. Whether way you're convinced that you need an air compressor but you're not quite sure where to start. This article will give you some of the basics about air compressors and then guide you through to choice by asking you five questions.

Here are some of the key attributes you'll be paying attention to when you start shopping for your air compressor:

Compressor Troubleshooting Guide

Horsepower:

Air compressors, as their name implies, compress air. This takes an machine and engines have horsepower. The horsepower of the machine you're inspecting has direct impact on all the other aspects of your compressor's performance. Horsepower is often inflated, and you should be paying closer attention to the engine's rated amperage for an idea of how powerful it is.

Psi:

Psi stands for pounds for square inch. Of course as you remember from high school physics class Psi is a measurement of pressure. To be exact, how many pounds of pressure is applied per square inch. The Psi rating is one of the crucial ratings in the air compressor to understand as air tools have a minimum amount of Psi required to run. Typically that's 90 Psi, but it depends from tool to tool.

Cfm:

Cfm stands for Cubic Feet Per slight and it's a unit for measuring the rate of flow in or out of a space. In this case, the rate of flow of air out of your air compressor. Air tools typically require 4-6 Cfm for allowable operation.

Tank Size:

The tank size, measured in Us gallons, tell you how much air is compressed and give you something of an idea of how long you can control your air tool for at a time. The other factors that affect how long you can run your tool for are the Psi and Hp of the machine itself as these factors determine how fast your compressed air supply is replenished.

Now that you've got the very basics of Air Compressors, here are four questions that will help you make your decision

1) Who's Using the Air Compressor, and What For?

Is it you in your shop on weekends building birdhouses? Or is it for your building company's framing up new houses? The level of use should be your first notice when production a buy and will help you determine how much of an venture nothing else but makes sense for your compressor. The aspects of the compressor you should be paying the most attention to here are Psi and horsepower. The higher these are the more power and continuous usage you'll get out of your compressor.

2) What Air Tools Do You Plan To Use?

Will you be using an impact wrench in an assembly line automotive project? Or are you using a brad nailer to end up your wood shop projects? Again, the amount of usage you're applying to your tool is a key factor in determining the Hp, Psi and Cfm of your air compressor. Typically, for the wood shop owner, you're looking at using end nailers, brad nailers and narrow-crown staplers for your projects.

3) Will You Be Using More than One Tool At A Time?

If you're running two tools at once from a particular compressor then you will need to spend in a compressor with more Hp, Psi and Cfm. A larger tank size would be beneficial as well.

4) Will You Be movable or Stationary?

If you're stationary then you'll be fine with an galvanic powered air compressor. If not then you'll need a gas powered compressor that you can bring with you to your electricity-free work site.

Armed with the basics of compressor lingo - Psi, Cfm, Tank Size and Horsepower you should be a formidable buyer when you go shopping for your next compressor. Be very skeptical when talking with compressor salesmen as they often know very slight about the units they sell and seek to razzle dazzle you with big talk that won't help you get the right compressor for your needs.

As always when choosing a new tool, know nothing else but how you plan to use it when production the purchase. Holding this in mind will always lead you to the right tool for the job.

The Air Compressor Buying Guide For Air Compressor Newbies

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