Your home air compressor – no matter how big or how small, how old or how new – has some form of drain valve. Air compressors are basically motors that pump air into a tank where the air accumulates and gains pressure. Once the water is flowing out, carefully tilt the air compressor so the drain valve is facing straight down.
You may now wonder how regularly you must drain your air compressor to stay safe. For the air compressors with a side drain valve, you need air pressure to drive the water out. Some Measures To Follow While Draining Your Air Compressor Ensure that the compressor is unplugged from the power source.
The end result is that the water vapor in the air compressed into the tank increases in relative humidity so much that the water vapor quickly condenses into free water in the bottom of the compressor tank. Get ready for a surprise! The stuff that flows out of your tank will be water yes, and it will also contain residue of compressor oil, perhaps a smidgen of tank rust, all spiced with whatever dust migrated into the tank through the intake filter. If you do not drain that water it starts filling the tank, and at the same time, could start rusting the tank from the inside, depending on the tank inner coating that is applied to the interior of the tank at the factory.
You can drain it manually or use an automatic drain valve for air compressor. If you have removed the whole drain valve, use new thread tape over the drain valve to prevent a leak when you reinstall it in the air compressor. Always keep a pan or bucket below the drain valve to collect the drained water from the air compressor tank.
Having an automatic tank drain can be very beneficial, especially if your compressor is used for larger industrial applications where you might be too busy to drain the compressor tank with timed water purges. Mainly, an automatic tank drain allows accumulated moisture to escape with each burst of compressed air, instead of needing to drain the tank manually. “In other words, you’ll no longer need to worry about moisture building up inside of your air compressor: the Zijia ½” automatic tank drain will do all the work for you! and help extend the life of your expensive air compressor.
how to drain air compressor Related Question:
Do I need to drain my air compressor?
Even if your air compressor’s pump cycles only a handful of times per day, you should drain your compressor tank every other day or several times per week to prolong its operating life and to protect your pneumatic devices and equipment.
How often should you drain water from air compressor?
It is recommended that you drain your tank daily, whether it is manually or automatically. Water build up in your tank can cause the bottom of your tank to rust forcing you to invest in a new tank. If you find yourself forget about draining your tank, you should look into purchasing an electronic drain valve.
Where is the drain valve on an air compressor?
A condensate drain valve is a small device typically located at the bottom of a compressor’s air receiver. Whether the air compressor drain valve is open or closed determines if water flows out of or remains inside the compressor tank.
Is it OK to leave an air compressor pressurized?
Leaving an air compressor pressurized does not have any immediate bad effects. Most compressors are designed to tolerate pressurization for a day or two without the tank suffering a catastrophic failure. Doing so has a major drawback. A continuously pressurized tank will weaken its seal.
Do air compressors explode?
Yes, air compressors can blow up. Air compressor explosions are most commonly caused by substantial corrosion of the compressor tank. Excessive condensation leads to corrosion, and you can avoid this outcome by monitoring and servicing the compressor and its auxiliary components.
Should you leave air compressor drain valve open?
Drain tank of moisture after each day’s use. If unit will not be used for a while, it is best to leave drain valve open until such time as it is to be used. This will allow moisture to completely drain out and help prevent corrosion on the inside of tank.
How long can I leave air in my compressor?
Depending on the size and type of compressor, air compressors can be left running anywhere from a few hours to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
How does drain valve on air compressor work?
As water builds up in the tank, it flows into this housing. The rising water level causes a float inside the housing to rise. Upon reaching a pre-set level, the float triggers the drain to open, and the water drains out. Some compressed air is lost with this type of valve.
What is drain valve?
Drain valves remove media from process lines and process or storage tanks. They are used in applications such as compressed air systems where liquid, gas, or slurries need to drain or be drained from the system.
Why is there water in my compressor?
Water condensation is a natural occurrence and a byproduct of compressing air. The amount of water produced by an air compressor is largely dependent on the inlet condition, the quality of ambient air in a given environment, as well as pressure.
How much condensate does an air compressor produce?
Expect a 50:1 ratio, 50 parts water to 1 part oil (or just 1 gallon of oil in a 55 gallon drum of condensate). Air systems can produce an enormous amount of condensate each day. A 100 HP compressor operating in a climate of 70°F with 80% humidity generates 2 gallons of condensate each hour.
Does an air compressor run out of air?
In some cases, a compressor will run as though it is functioning properly when, in reality, there is a problem with compressor pressure. There may be some buildup of air in the compressor, or it may not have any air at all.
What is auto drain valve?
Automatic drain valves remove mixtures of water and compressor lubricants from compressed air systems. An automatic drain valve eliminates the need for a maintenance worker to patrol the plant, manually dumping liquid from the air system.
Can you unplug air compressor?
Disconnect air compressor from power source and bleed off all air pressure before attempting any maintenance or repair. SHUTDOWN AND STORAGE: NEVER stop the air compressor by unplugging it from the power outlet as this may result in damage to the compressor.
Why do air compressors explode?
The leading cause of air compressor tank explosions is corrosion. When operators don’t drain the water that accumulates in their tank, the water can cause corrosion, weakening the tank until the compressed air breaks it open.
