Leave compressor tank charged?

[gary300]

I just got a new compressor, oil lubed 30 gallon tank. My question is should I leave the tank charged up (135 PSI) when the unit is not in use? I will only be using the compressor very infrequently, but when I just want to use the blow gun for a moment I don't want to wait for the tank to charge up from zero.

 

[Zrexxer]

The only time my compressor has not had air in it in the last 10 years was when I had to drain the tank to install an automatic drain. It's ready to go 24/7/365.

 

[z28snksknr]

Good or bad, I don't drain mine down, and I have a similar use schedule to you - rare.

 

[Kevin54]

24/7/365 here also.

 

[Abbott]

You can drain the tank?














Just kidding. I don't drain mine as often as I should and it holds air 99% of the time.

 

[35mastr]

24/7/365 here also.

Me too,Ready to go at all times. I just need to flip the breaker on.

 

[ImportTuner]

Same here .. charged 24/7 but mine is only a 30 gal. tank

 

[sberry]

Mine are never off.

 

[mdbeck1]

I've had several compressors over the years (mainly my Dad's when I was a kid). Put a cutoff valve at the tank to turn off the air lines (they always seem to leak). Flip that when you stop work of an evening and it doesn't matter if you turn them off or not unless there's a problem with the tank.

When you need the compressor flip the valve and go to work.

I've got a little 4 gallon pancake that holds pressure for over a month without power. Just flip the line valve and I'm ready to go.

 

[Zeppe807]

The only time my compressor has not had air in it in the last 10 years was when I had to drain the tank to install an automatic drain. It's ready to go 24/7/365.

Here too, re-plumbing is the only time I have mine off.

I have an 80 gallon that is charged to 150 psi, it is also hard wired so there is no reason to turn it off.

It was made in 1939!

 

[Kev442]

Leave where ever it wants to be. I flip the breaker on mine and many times air up tires without even turning it on later. I'm gone a lot, so don't trust it on 24/7.

 

[bb1970]

I always have a full tank too. I also have a shut off for all the lines.

 

[Diverbill45]

I usually keep mine charged up, but shut off the breaker anytime I leave the shop, at the end of the day or for any length of time. I also blow-down the tank each day. This keeps moisture from building up in the tank and prolongs the life of the tank, also helps to keep moisture out of the air lines, if you don't happen to have an air separator or air dryer installed in your system. I don't like to have the exhaust from any air tool give me a shower, when I hit the trigger.

A good example of why I trip the breaker at the end of the day is, one of the contractors I used to work for never tripped the breaker and the shop was shut down for a 5 day period. When we all came back to work we didn't have any air pressure. Hit the breaker and it tripped itself off. Checked out the system and found out the compressor was burnt up. After replacing the compressor, hit the breaker, compressor came on, but air was blowing in the shop. Found out that during the time we all were off an air line had broke and the compressor ran until it destroyed itself.

It's a lot cheaper to trip the breaker each day than the cost to replace a 20 HP compressor.

I placed my main breaker box right next to the man door in my shop and installed a small "RED" light that comes on whenever the compressor breaker is on. This way it's a reminder to switch the compressor breaker off before leaving. It can't be missed, so I except NO EXCUSSES from anyone. I only had a conversation once, with one of my sons, about me finding that "RED" light left on and believe me, he's never forgotten since.

 

[cyamaha2007]

Ive came into work to find our 300 gallon compressor running full bore. Broken 1in pvc air line. It now has a disconect but still pvc air lines. I bet there is 3000 feet of pvc air lines in that plant... no one cares

 

[babzog]

All four gallons of mine are ready to go at a moment's notice.

 

[Boyd Who]

I never drain mine either, it seems to leak out within a few days if I don't use it. Time for new hoses, methinks.

 

[Kevin54]

Ive came into work to find our 300 gallon compressor running full bore. Broken 1in pvc air line. It now has a disconect but still pvc air lines. I bet there is 3000 feet of pvc air lines in that plant... no one cares

He said "PVC AIRLINES"

Let the Flame Wars begin

 

[Torque1st]

Ive came into work to find our 300 gallon compressor running full bore. Broken 1in pvc air line. It now has a disconect but still pvc air lines. I bet there is 3000 feet of pvc air lines in that plant... no one cares

He just needs to make an anonymous call to OSHA.
http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/complain.html

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=20202

 

[PassnThru]

If I remember correctly, my relatively cheap Craftsman compressor recommended in the manual that the air be bled out when the compressor is not in use. My neighbor actually does that - I do not. I always assumed it was just another one of those reduce our liability things so someone can't sue us for something that happened once 20 years ago. My duty cycle is also fairly infrequent and since it isn't a standing shop compressor I don't leave it plugged in anyhow. That might be the reason for the OP's question.

 

[Identaltech]

If you dont drain the tank wont the air get stale?

 

[ZRX61]

I never drain mine either, it seems to leak out within a few days if I don't use it. Time for new hoses, methinks.

Doesn't it have a shut off valve to keep the tank pressuried? I can leave mine for weeks without it leaking down.

 

[Boyd Who]

Doesn't it have a shut off valve to keep the tank pressuried? I can leave mine for weeks without it leaking down.

I've never really checked. I rarely use the compressor so it's never been a real issue. Once I start using it more I'll look into it.

 

[BioHazard]

Never empty my tanks - that's just extra wear and tear when you start it back up again and have to fill the tank. One of my compressors is a $99 HF model several years old that I haven't used in a few months, I was surprised to notice it's still over 100PSI, no leaks apparently.

I ALWAYS make sure they're off before I leave, my ******* neighbor used to always leave his leaky compressor on and it would cycle on and off all night....

 

[GzrGlide]

....... my ******* neighbor used to always leave his leaky compressor on and it would cycle on and off all night....

I used to be one of those ******* neighbors. But at the time all I had was one of those really cheap 3-5 gal oil-less pankake compressors. The thing would cycle at least once an hour. I always seemed to forget to turn it off after airing up tires before we would leave for the weekend. The thing would cycle every hour all weekend.

Neighborhood sure is happier now that I have the new 60gal upright that doesn't leak nearly as much and is MUCH quieter.

To answer the OP question. I don't drain the tank until the fall before the freezing winter kicks in.

 

[sberry]

Depends too on how much you use it, once a week is different than needing air at any given time.

 

[framer]

Switch of when done for the day leave charged. partially drain next time
on.Have ball **** valve on the bottom open closed with my foot. It is a
Quincy compressor heavy tank. I would be concerned with cheaper compressors less metal in tanks rust through should be a concern if you don't
drain at least occasionally.It could explode.

 

[Abbott]

Have ball **** valve on the bottom open closed with my foot.

I am adding that to mine framer.

I shut the breaker off when I leave the shop. Three of them; compressor, dust collector and exhaust fan.

 

[mustangmccance]

My dad is absolutely fanatical about his tools, like anyone who makes a living with tools. he was a mechanic his entire life. so we have ball **** valves right at the tank and our compressors have switches at the compressor. we shut both off after use. since the valve keeps the air in pretty well the compressor is ready to go right away, and there is very little chance that the compressor can burn up that way.

 

[OldCarGuy]

I leave my 5 HP compressor along with my BelAir dryer running all the time except when I go out of town on extended trips for over 20 years. When I want compressed air, I just want to reach for a hose. And not wait until my entire system reaches pressure. I have two 80 gallon tanks, over 300' of 1” black steel pipes along with over 400' of 3/4” runs and 1/2” drops many six hose reels and numerous hoses to charge. Throughout my five garages.

 

[Mr. Jean]

I keep air in mine at all times, so it's ready for small use without a startup. I do drain it twice a year, to get rid of any moisture build up, to prevent/slow any rusting of the tank.

 

[BioHazard]

I would be concerned with cheaper compressors less metal in tanks rust through should be a concern if you don't
drain at least occasionally.It could explode.

I thought this was obvious but I guess it might not be to some people. I drain the water out of my tank after EVERY use. That's different than letting all the air out, only drops 10-15 psi.

You might notice if you drain your compressor constantly, the water will come out mostly clear. If you don't, it will come out brown and rusty. Fortunately if a tank rusts out it usually vents through a pin hole rather than exploding.

 

[gary300]

Draining the water out after each use I can see the point of, don't want any rust in the tank. My original question was about leaving the tank charged with air or not when only using it occasionally. This assumes dumping the air pressure out of the hose via a ball valve or turning the regulator to zero when done using.

 

[kwb]

No harm in leaving it charged and if you have any sort of volume to the system it ends up being a fair amount of juice to charge back up.

My system isn't perfectly leak free- so I try to shut down the juice at the end of the day and whatever is lost between next use is lost. System will cycle ~2x over a 12 hour span left unattended.

 

[srmofo]

If you dont drain the tank wont the air get stale?

you just have to change it out seasonly. You cant use winter air in the summertime and vice versa

 

[Nuit Damnant]

Another vote for leaving it charged. I do turn off the ball valve at the tank, turn the compressor off, drain the water and let the air out of the hoses, but the tank is full all the time.
I do use summertime air year round though...I like the smell better.

 

[Torque1st]

I do use summertime air year round though...I like the smell better.

The air in my tank must be somewhat green or brown since it smells like me...

I leave my compressor on unless I am going out of town.

 

[PassnThru]

you just have to change it out seasonly. You cant use winter air in the summertime and vice versa

You can get away with no seasonal changes if you use nitrogen instead of air
Surely people aren't still using air in their compressors. I guess you run that junk in your tires too huh

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

My little compressor stays full of air at all times as well...

 

[lawfarm]

Like many, I leave the tank charged. However, on the output from the tank, I have a ball valve that I shut off (and keep the lines and hoses uncharged when not in use). I also keep the breaker off, and only turn it on when I'm working with the compressor.

 

[djd99]

I turn mine off when ever I leave my shop, I only work in the shop in the weekends and if I leave mine on It cycles about every 12 hours for about 6 minutes. I would rather just turn it on when I'm going to use it. I have 2 60 gallon tanks and it only take about 15 minites to pump up both tanks up.