What happens if you don’t drain air compressor

There will stay some water in the compressor tank. Now, what happens if you don’t drain air compressor? It can be downright dangerous to use it.

While using it you will feel pressure and after some months all the accessories will start leaking. Then there would not be another solution except the replacement with new ones. Always make sure that all the accessories are up to mark.

Anytime working with an air compressor, the atmospheric air with a certain percentage of water vapor fills the tank.

Accumulated water vapor can cause damage to the internal structure of an air compressor. The corrosion-resistant coating on the interior of your tank protects it from the water-to-steel contact that would cause corrosion.

Eventually, water can build up as water vapor condenses on the inside of the air compressor and it starts pushing out water droplets. These droplets are called air compressor rusty water.

They will affect the protective coating and lead to rust inside the tank. Also, it affects the integrity of the air compressor tank life and can blow out at any time

Now owning an air compressor means that you have to adopt all the preventive services. So it is necessary to apply and follow all the essential guidelines. Our experts suggest making yourself habitual in draining your compressor daily.

It is essential to have a compressor in good working order to prevent severe problems.

What is an air compressor?

Compressors are the main tools used in almost all industries and are also used in our homes for our daily use. An Air compressor is a versatile device that uses either an electric motor, diesel engine, or gasoline engine. Convert power into potential energy and stores it in pressurized air.

The compressors is one of the machines which has been used for a long time and it is still used because of its different qualities. Different types of compressors are available in the market and have different features and specifications.

Follow these steps to use an air compressor

Don’t just plug in, also learn how to use an air compressor with safety. Here is what you’ll need:

Install according to instructions

Connect the air hoses to the regulating valve by following the manufacturer’s instructions to mount your model of air compressor.

Inspect the oil level

After inspection of oil level in compressor ta

Inspect relief valve and electrical outlet 

This is a safety measure to ensure that your compressor doesn’t overheat and fail. By grounding the three-prong outlet and setting the relief valve, you are preventing any risks to your system.

Turn on the air compressor 

To pump the gallon tank, turn on the compressor and then close the tank drain valve.

Connect the air power tool to the hose

Make sure to adjust the compressor according to the specifications of the tool and the project you’re working on. Avoid exceeding the power tool manufacturer’s recommended pressure.

Disconnect your air compressor

Disconnect and turn off your air compressor. Remove the hose and tool when you have finished your work.

Store Air compressor

The final step is to drain and store your air compressor. It makes elements be in perfect working order the next time.

How to drain an air compressor?

These baby steps will prevent all the problems:

  • The compressor must be unplugged or turned off
  • Wear safety glasses
  • To locate the drain valve follow the instructions in your model’s manual.
  • Completely open the drain valve.
  • To ensure that all the water has unfilled keep the valve open.
  • After drying, close the drain. Find out that it’s tightly sealed.

Protip: Automatic drains are available for your compressors to make things easier for you by automatically draining. Air compressor leaves the drain open automatically so that you don’t have to remember to do it yourself.

How often should you drain the air compressor?

The compressor tank drain should be do on daily basis. Hot air acts like a natural air dryer so it dries the moisture drops from the tank. If you perform draining on a daily basis then it will continue to accumulate water and lead to rusting. Manually air compressor tank water drain is a hectic process but money-saving.

Another way to prevent air compressor rust in tanks is to buy a self-drain kit that comes with a timer drain. The timer drain runs automatically at regular intervals to drain any moisture in the tank. It’s easy but one has to spend extra money on purchasing a kit. So do what suits you.

Maintenance Checks of the Compressor

An air compressor is a crucial element of daily tasks like small touch-ups and checks etc. but it’s important not to neglect major maintenance tasks. Neglecting the cleaning results in decreased productivity or worse conditions like an air compressor drain valve stuck. Emergency repairs end up costing you a lot of money.

Make sure you’re scheduling regular maintenance checks for your air compressor to avoid any unexpected issues or expenses down the line.

  • Spring is the perfect time to make sure your air compressor is in good shape.
  • Monitor the incoming voltage to make sure that everything is working smoothly.
  • Testing of fluid and air leaks before starting the operation will avoid issues.
  • Filters are the major area so examine the differentials across them.
  • Overheating will reduce the efficiency to maintain the temperature.
  • Every year we take oil samples.
  • Give air compressors dusting three to four times each year.
  • Remove the old oil after a specific time and refill the new oil.

Does the air compressor run out of air?

A compressor should not run out of air when running regular duty cycles with an appropriate load. Most air compressors have refillable tanks. Compressors that have a tank and built-in motor are refillable. They have a self-refilling design in which the compressor motor cycles on and off to refill pressurized air in the tank as it is being used. If the compressor is switched off, you can drain the tank by using the drain valve.

Why is the air compressor blowing out oil?

During work, if oil is flowing back to the inlet filter it means the air compressor is blowing out oil. One reason is stopping the compressor in the wrong way. The second reason is a mechanical problem mostly inlet valves.

Can the air compressor rupture?

If the air compressor has a pinhole leak then pressurized air tanks can be very dangerous it can rupture. Metal shrapnel could hit something or someone, causing serious injury. Because moisture sitting in the bottom of the tank, causing rust.

Also, rust will cause the air compressor drain valve to be stuck. The first symptom of a larger problem is pinhole leakage. Plugging the pinhole won’t stop the rust and could be dangerous if not done correctly. It’s important to get the tank inspected by a professional to avoid any accidents.

Important factors that affect the tank life 

Leaking of the tank will decrease the life of the tank. You can increase tank life by fixing all little imperfections or damages.

  • To identify leakage, turn on the air compressor and charge it fully.
  • Spray water and soap to look at bubbles.
  • Bubbles can appear on fittings, if they happen then tighten up with a wrench.
  • If bubbling is continued, then there must be an issue in the tank.
  • Now spray bubbly water all over the tank carefully. Then observe bubbles on it.
  • It may be rust leakage or crack.
  • It is necessary to release or drain air from the compressor.
  • Now grind the rusty area until it becomes flat.
  • You can use brazing torch to cover the leakage area.

Note: Make sure to apply heat on specific area. This is the safest process to get rid of leaking permanently.

Reuse the old air compressor tank 

Don’t throw the old tank if you bought new one it can reuse in many other ways. For BBQ don’t buy a new smoker. You canuse an air compressor fire pit for this purpose. It is such a cool hack to utilize the damaged tank as a fire pit.

For decorating the garden use this old tank as a planter for flowers or vegetables. Or it is more helpful for small houses that can build their small garden in the tank.

Conclusion 

For any business or construction to home improvement or spray paints, an air compressor is a necessary piece of equipment. You also know that you shouldn’t run the compressor without draining the tank of any excess air. You could be putting your equipment at risk. Drain the compressor daily to save the life of the tank. To be on the safe side, you should always go through the manual of the machine which you are going to use and understand the safety precautions.