We use air compressors mostly in every work, whether it is cleaning the house, filling up tires, or else any kind of work-related construction. While using compressors there is always a question raised in everyone’s mind that is it OK to leave the compressor pressurized? Is there any chance tank blow up if we don’t drain it regularly? There are also other queries that folks are worried about. We will answer all your questions here.
Every pneumatic tool manufacturer keeps the human safety factor on priority while making air compressors. To save people from explosion-like accidents, a safety valve is installed that quickly works when the tank is overpressurized.
But, when these valves start malfunctioning, the tank blow-up chances increase. It is safe to leave an air compressor full whether the tank is made of aluminum or any other material but everything should be working fine. For example, the pressure gauge, pressure regulator, safety valve, and others, if these parts on your unit are working fine then no need to worry.
People have different thoughts on keeping the tank full or empty. Some, folks say we want to save electricity and that’s why we fill the tank once and use it for 2-3 days. In opposition, folks say we drain the tank regularly increases the compressor’s life and saves from rust and blow-up issues.
In our garage, if we are using an air compressor on daily basis, we drain it whenever the work finishes. So, both are safe options.
Draining the tank daily is a more worthwhile option because it prevents the tank from getting excessive moisture and increases its performance. So, our recommendation is if you are going to keep pressure for one or two days you can keep your unit full but for a long time it’s not good, and better you drain it.
Let’s learn the right steps to drain the compressor
You can drain the air compressor by following 3 simple steps below:
Step 1: Power off the air compressor
First of all, for your safety, you need to turn off the air compressor so there will be no electricity. After turning it off you can plug it out from the power source and now you are fully secure from electricity.
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Step2: Take air out/ Start Draining
After you followed the above step now it’s time to start releasing all moisturized air from the compressor. For this purpose, you need to open drain valves. All the units have a drain valve on the bottom, if you have no idea about this valve just see the downside of the compressor, you will see a lever. Just move it in the opposite direction, the air and water start coming out.
Step3: Close valve
This is a very important step and drain valves should be closed very carefully. Because, if you don’t do that, there must be chances of air leakage left and you will face a lot of problems like air compressor is not stopping and building pressure. So, close the valve tightly and you can now start the compressor.
FAQs
How long can you leave air in an air compressor?
When we pressurize the tank, it collects air and moisture from the environment and stores it in the tank. If we keep the same air for 5-6 days, the moisture will start reacting with tank walls which results in corrosion. So, it’s better to leave air for fewer days. You can keep the air inside for a maximum of 4-5 days.
Can you leave the air compressor outside?
There are a lot of downsides to keeping the air compressor outside. If you are thinking to put your unit, please stop, you may face serious consequences. As there is a ton of dust in the surroundings when you place the unit outside it starts collecting a high amount of dirt. A time comes when the air filters get bad and cause critical damage to compressors, so, avoid it. The best place to install the air tools is a garage.
Can I leave an oil-less air compressor in the cold?
This is not good for air compressors to keep in cold weather as it can be harmful and can blow up the compressor. The reason is that the moisturized air will freeze inside the compressor including components like the hose of the compressor and will damage the air compressor.
Can I leave my air compressor ON overnight?
Some air compressors have an auto shut-off system installed in them, that automatically switches off the unit when getting the maximum pressure. In this case, it is safe to On the tool overnight because when anything exceeds its limits the auto system shut down the unit and saves from any accident. On the other hand, if your unit has no auto-shutoff system then we recommend keeping it off overnight.
How long does an air compressor take to fill?
Compressor’s tank filling time depends on many factors, like the units with more horsepower motor installed will fill up the tank within 2 or 3 minutes. Tank size also depends, because larger tanks take more time compared to smaller tanks. Another factor that affects tank filling time is cut-out pressure, for example, if your unit fills maximum pressure of 175 psi it will take more time; similarly, if the air tool cut pressure is 100 psi it takes less time. On average, the compressor should top up the tank in 130 – 140 seconds.
How does air compressor auto drain work?
According to us, the compressor should have auto drain functionality. Because it helps to put out the air and water from the tank automatically. The auto drain working is straightforward when the tank is over-pressurized or contains water inside it automatically releases the pressure and water. It maximizes the working of the unit and saves you from extra maintenance costs.
How to keep moisture out of the compressor?
Moisture causes a lot of trouble to the body of the air compressor so there will be a solution for its prevention. The best way to kick out moisture from the unit is using a desiccant air dryer that contains small balls to absorb moisture.