How Did You Install A Drain On Your Air Compressor?

[camaron32]

Last year I bought a Husky electric stand up air compressor from Home Depot. I have to reach under the compressor to drain it, and I was wondering if there is an easier way to do this. Thank you.

 

[stonesfan68]

I ran some stainless steel tubing (I had access to the scrap pile at work) from the bottom of the tank to the edge of the tank legs. I then put a 1/4-turn ball valve on the end of the tubing.

 

[454ragtop]

Remove the drain valve, install a street ell, a piece of pipe long enough to get the valve to where it is easy to reach, and then a ball valve.

 

[sberry]

Found enough stuff from old obsolete copper line I had to make 1 flare. Hooked to a piece of runner line thru the wall. When I read about a problem with an auto drain I go over and open a valve on each vessel for a few seconds.

 

[jobo1004]

I still have to reach underneath mine to drain the tank, but installing one of these made it a lot easier to do and didn't cost much.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HXD2UZA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[sberry]

Good pricing.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I used a "T" fittin' to have a turn **** drain, 'n a cable spring loaded drain off a class 8 truck,...

 

[454ragtop]

The nice thing about adding some piping is the water sits in the pipe, rather than the tank, long as you drain it fairly regularly.

 

[gdocktor3]

I used a street 90 with a long ****** and a small 1/4" quarter turn shut off valve. I used brass. No rust or rot.

 

[torqueman2002]

After using a drain that discharged on the floor, which stained the floor, an automatic drain that discharges outside was fitted.

2 air diffusers are used as silencers.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I used a street 90 with a long ****** and a small 1/4" quarter turn shut off valve. I used brass. No rust or rot.

I did this as well, but after the ball valve I used another 90 elbow pointed down into a plastic container, and I put a cheap grout sponge in the container. Muffles the air coming out, and I don't spray rusty water straight across the garage.

I saw it in a magazine a while back, maybe Family Handyman? I can't remember.


Edit: Woodworker's Journal, this was it
http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/Draining-Air-Compressor-Lead.jpg

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I removed the factory installed factory drain, installed a street-L and various pipe fittings to a ball valve that would be easy for me to reach. From the valve, i ran 1/4" nylon tubing through a hole in the wall to the outside. The tubing is long enough for me to move the compressor around for servicing.

Here's the picture of the drain before I installed the tubing:

Generally, I drain the tank before and after using the compressor.

 

[camaron32]

Cool. Thank you for the tips. Draining the tank is a cheap easy way to maintan it.

 

[dw1]

You can get a solid state drain valve to drain it, set the dip switches on "How Long" and "Time Interval" and it will drain itself from your preset times.

 

[B_Lafayet]

I replaced the original drain with a ball valve.

 

[jl4c]

Remove the drain valve, install a street ell, a piece of pipe long enough to get the valve to where it is easy to reach, and then a ball valve.

+1 on this. Easy as pie. Takes 1 second to blow out the day's accumulated moisture before heading into the house.

 

[ovrrdrive]

I just used the kit with the flexible hose and ball valve they sell at HD. Works well and like mentioned above keeps the water in the hose and out of the tank.

 

[4 FN 27]

I put an auto drain on mine. In the winter I have it set to run 5 seconds on every hour. In the summer I go 10 seconds every half hour.

To test it I just un plug it and plug it back in and it goes off. Have them on all 3 compressors at work. Only had 1 go bad after 15 years of use 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.

The one in the picture was installed in 1997 when I bought this compressor new.

 

[zmotorsports]

Remove the drain valve, install a street ell, a piece of pipe long enough to get the valve to where it is easy to reach, and then a ball valve.

This is how I have had mine in my old shop for the past 25+ years. Looking to do a little more refined method in my new shop.

After using a drain that discharged on the floor, which stained the floor, an automatic drain that discharges outside was fitted.

2 air diffusers are used as silencers.

^^Sweet idea. This may be worth stealing for my new shop.

Mike.

 

[KCarGuy]

I also Used an Auto Drain setup and ran it Outside.
But...No silencers.
It comes out the side wall and 90's down toward the ground.
(Probable scares the **** out of the stray Cats running around at night)

 

[torqueman2002]

This is how I have had mine in my old shop for the past 25+ years. Looking to do a little more refined method in my new shop.

^^Sweet idea. This may be worth stealing for my new shop.

Mike.

I also Used an Auto Drain setup and ran it Outside.
But...No silencers.
It comes out the side wall and 90's down toward the ground.
(Probable scares the **** out of the stray Cats running around at night)

zmotor - Thanks. I wish I could find where I bought that auto drain. I have it set to drain on start up and every 10 mins of operation.

KCar - I put the silencers on, after my neighbor was startled when it went off, while he was mowing his lawn along side the garage!

 

[larry4406]

Educate me on those air diffusers/silencers please.

 

[Brian_WK]

I used a SS street 90 then into a 9 inch stainless braided hose. then into a ball valve. I hold a rag over the end when draining it and usually do it when the tank pressure is low. That sound really bugs my ears.

I used to have it just brass with a ****** but snapped it off when I pulled it over the garage threshold and it came down on the ****** snapped it off at 150 psi scared the **** out of me.

Brian

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I like this idea, but it appears to be upside-down,...
Ei: Not self-draining,....

That's Very important to those of us that live in Cold areas,..

 

[KM223]

I used stainless steel fitting, pipe and ball valve to keep from rusting. Works much better and is easy to access.

 

[nine4gmc]

When you guys turn the pipe back up from down low, you are essentially creating a "P" trap for the water to pool in the pipe. Also, if the pipe goes up higher than the bottom of the compressor, it may keep the water in the compressor tank more than having everything level with or below the 90* fitting on the bottom of the tank.

 

[torqueman2002]

Educate me on those air diffusers/silencers please.

I guess they are really called 'mufflers', at least that's how they're listed at McMaster-Carr.

'... use these with air-powered tools, valves, and cylinders to reduce noise and filter exhaust air. All have a porous bronze body.'
https://www.mcmaster.com/#pneumatic-mufflers/=16ab86b


Bondo & nine4gmc
The force of the air removes any water from the entire system and has not been a problem in SE Michigan.

The 'P' trap also keeps rain water from back filling the system.

If there is an obstruction, the brass ****** from the timer to the external CI pipe are attached with a flexible plastic tube and hose clamps. That acts as a 'blow-off', as it demonstrated when the clamps were not tightened sufficiently.

 

[Kiwi Canuck]

I extended the standard drain and installed a 1/4 turn ball valve but also raised my compressor up about 3" on wooden pucks so I could place a low flat bowl under the valve to catch the water rather than stain the floor.

May have to get me one of those auto drain devices for my new shop.

 

[torqueman2002]

I extended the standard drain and installed a 1/4 turn ball valve but also raised my compressor up about 3" on wooden pucks so I could place a low flat bowl under the valve to catch the water rather than stain the floor. ....

That's a good idea.

I left my 80-gallon bolted to a pallet, which gives more room for access and 'easy' trasportability, when it comes time to move it out of the shop.

I wish I could find where I purchased the auto drain, but my last search in a similar thread, lead to a dead end.

Amazon has something similar for ~$55.00. Search for "auto drain" and take a look at the: "Automatic Electronic Timed Air Tank Water Moisture Drain Valve For Compressor".

 

[Dr Stan]

Here's a possibility: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200397384_200397384

 

[Sawdustmaker]

Remove the drain valve, install a street ell, a piece of pipe long enough to get the valve to where it is easy to reach, and then a ball valve.

Yup, that's what I did. Used brass pipe. Works well.

 

[NedNorton]

Yup, that's what I did. Used brass pipe. Works well.

This is the route I took also. Simple and effective. Brass 90, pipe, ball valve and 90 (ignore the black pipe).





Cheers,
Chris

 

[GTO]

Remove the drain valve, install a street ell, a piece of pipe long enough to get the valve to where it is easy to reach, and then a ball valve.

This

 

[fnieto]

Auto drains through the wall keeping things clean inside as well as quiet. The auto drain was relocated so no need to bend down to adjust the settings or push the test button. The bottom of the compressor was fitted with copper and a ball valve with brass barbed fitting for hose connection. The system is very quiet and won't make you jump out of you skin when auto dumping. My neighbor installs barrier gates and had an extra traffic signal that I used for a pilot light. In the past I had forgotten to switch off the system and would dump throughout the night disturbing his horses not to mention wasting air. The compressor is at the far end of the man door so at a glance, I can see the bright red light when shutting down for the day.

 

[lakeroadster]

I'm a member of the DIY street elbow, pipe ******, and ball valve crowd.

Less is more... reach down, open the valve... when the water stops coming out close the valve.

I built a puke tank for mine using a Folgers can and some kitty litter to capture the rusty water.....

A flap cut in the lid, and a shop rag between the lid and can, allows the pressure to escape / vent.

easy peazy.



Anything piped outside, with air diffusers, will freeze once the temperatures drop below zero.

 

[sberry]

I agree with simple here. It's hard to beat a simple valve and open it once in a while. can do it only as needed and when convenient. If we are busy once a week, sometimes once a month. Ours is simply hooked to a hose thru the wall.
I live in cold clime, not a problem. It's part of the reason we used hose conversion from copper where it went thru well but Lake's hose could be plumbed outside no problem if needed.

 

[arrowhead]

When you guys turn the pipe back up from down low, you are essentially creating a "P" trap for the water to pool in the pipe. Also, if the pipe goes up higher than the bottom of the compressor, it may keep the water in the compressor tank more than having everything level with or below the 90* fitting on the bottom of the tank.

Not a problem because when you blow it down the force of the air drains the pipe and bottom of tank completely. (That is assuming you blow it down under pressure as I do)

 

[IMStuner]

I used stainless steel fitting, pipe and ball valve to keep from rusting. Works much better and is easy to access.

I'm going to have to spend some money now. Where did you get the stainless hardware and cost?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[KM223]

I'm going to have to spend some money now. Where did you get the stainless hardware and cost?

Thanks,
Jeff

I got the stainless from my local industrial hardware store here in Vegas. McFadden Dale. Like a McMaster Carr except local. I don't think it was much more than $50 or so total.

 

[IMStuner]

I got the stainless from my local industrial hardware store here in Vegas. McFadden Dale. Like a McMaster Carr except local. I don't think it was much more than $50 or so total.

Thanks


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