The Best Air Compressor Maintenance Hacks
There are many ways to make your compressor equipment run more smoothly. Today we take a deep dive into making your compressor parts run at their optimal level. Read below for the best air compressor maintenance hacks!
Several commercial and industrial tools would be impossible to operate without the driving force that compressors supply. Statistics show that up to 70 percent of industries need compressed air for their day-to-day operations or to power their equipment.
This clearly indicates that most air compressors are efficient and operate as perpetual machines. But over time, air compressors start lagging, get dumb, and may eventually peter out.
Study air compressor maintenance hacks outlined in this article if you want your equipment to last long. These maintenance hacks will ensure your air compressor maintains its efficacy, operate faster, and works just the way you want it, day in and day out. A quick note before we get started, hacks are a great way to keep your commercial compressor running optimally, however, sometimes you will need to invest in repair if the damages are too great.
Best Air Compressor Maintenance Hacks to Know
If you want your air compressor to keep giving you top-notch performance every day, pay heed to these maintenance hacks:
Keep the Intake Air Temperature Very Low
The air compressor motor works when it compresses warm air. But it doesn’t perform as much work if it has to compress cool air. What does that tell you?
Your compressor motor will not be unduly stressed or expense a lot of energy when compressing cool air. Therefore, keeping the intake air temperature as low as possible makes lots of sense.
So, everything you can to ensure the intake air is as cool as possible in order to minimize the energy the compressor motor will expand during operation. Applying this hack can make your air compressor more efficient and save on costs.
Avoid Pressure Drop as Much as Possible
The compressed air traveling within the compressor from the tank to the air tool covers a specific distance. The compressed air will encounter several long paths and sharp bends throughout this traveling distance. This causes lots of enhanced friction, resulting in less pressure at the end of its journey.
This pressure drop significantly affects the entire performance and time-efficiency of the compressor.
Therefore, ensure fewer sharp bends and narrow delivery lines across the path the compressor air travels through. The incidence of friction is severely minimized, and the compressed air arrives at its destination at the correct pressure for optimal impact.
Ensure the Air is Clean Before Use
Although this sounds simple and obvious, you wouldn’t believe the number of operators who don’t pay heed to this maintenance hack.
Dirty air is generally full of dust particles and contaminants, which can severely hamper the overall operation of your air compressor. These particles or contaminants can cause wear and tear as well as jamming within the equipment. You already know what this means: prolonged downtime, loss of revenue, and possible replacements of several worn-out components.
This is why it is crucial to filter the air and get rid of these contaminants and dust particles before allowing the air compressor to use it.
Moreover, clean air travels faster within and throughout the entire compressor system. It never hurts the health and overall performance of the equipment’s internal parts, no matter how long you operate.
Therefore, always use cleaner air as it passively and naturally affects the efficacy of the machine.
Stay Small with the Size of the Air Compressor(s)
Many companies use large and bulky air compressors to boost production or output every day. But these machines can be inefficient as they take a lot of time to fill up the tank and deliver the compressed air to its destination.
So, what can you do in this scenario, you ask? If you need the same output that a big compressor gives within a shorter time frame, consider using several compressors at a time.
Get the air compressors and line them up. Assemble each machine and then establish what is known as a sequential control.
But if you use smaller or portable compressors, this tip may not be applicable.
How to Make Your Air Compressor More Efficient
The maintenance hacks mentioned in the previous section will speed up the operation of your air compressor.
But if you want to enhance your air compressor’s efficiency, follow these tips: d
Make Use of a Shorter Air Hose
Suppose you have been operating an air compressor for a significant amount of time. In that case, you already know that the further compressed air has to travel within the system, the lesser its pressure. This means there is a considerable pressure drop if compressed air has to travel a long distance within the compressor system.
In other words, long air hoses minimize the efficiency – as well as the CFM level – of the air compressor.
You can avoid or prevent this by using a shorter air hose. This maximizes the efficiency of the compressor as the compressed air reaches its destination faster or within a shorter time frame for maximum impact.
Use Auxiliary Tanks
If you have no other option than to keep using a longer air hose, consider using auxiliary tanks. These will help keep the efficiency of the equipment at optimal levels without increasing the frictional loss between the compressed air and the hose.
Use a 3/8-inch Air Hose
It is not only by reducing the overall length of your air hose. Consider the diameter or thickness of the hose, too.
For instance, using an air hose with a ¼-inch diameter could generate a lot of contact between the hose body and the compressed air. Thinner air hoses will critically impact the overall efficiency of the compressor.
Therefore, look for and use an air hose at least 3/8-inch thick. This will satisfy both ends and have zero impact on the equipment’s efficiency.
Regular Lubrication is Key
Lubrication plays an excellent role in any mechanical power machine you use. Regular lubrication of machine parts minimizes friction, wear and tear while boosting its efficiency and lifetime.
However, ensure you use only the recommended type of lubricator and oil. Do not use and lubricator that will eventually leave a lot of residue in the system. This could also affect the efficient operation of the equipment.
Wrapping Best Air Compressor Hacks
Boosting the operational efficiency of your air compressor is essential if you don’t want to experience any downtimes. This is why you should never take any risks that can severely threaten the outcome of your projects.
Following every air compressor maintenance hack highlighted in this article is your best bet of remaining in operation for a long time. Always keep a sharp eye on the overall maintenance procedures of your compressor to ensure it is sound 24/7, and you will never regret it.
From industry standards like Ariel compressor parts to White Superior compressor parts, we carry compressor parts you can trust and a service you can count on.
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