Air Compressor Drain

[dawgn86]

Good afternoon,

I have an older Craftsman 33 Gallon horizontal air compressor that is about 18 years old. Model # is 919.165330.

It is hooked up in my garage and I am looking for the best way to drain the water from the tank about every month or so. It is only used for general uses around the house, etc.

Anyone have suggestions for a setup that would make it easier?

Thanks

 

[FMB4]

You should drain it after every use. That said, their are any number 'quick' drain valves that you only need to pull a cable to drain. They also make 'self draining' valves in which you need not do anything (but to contain the water drain-off if you prefer).

 

[FredWanaker]

I have an elbow screwed into where the petcock was. That elbow goes to a steel pipe that angles out to the side of the compressor. There is a small ball valve screwed onto that. Then I have another elbow and a barb. I take a hose from the barb to outside the shed. At the end of the day I crack open the ball valve and drain it. All the moisture and oil in the tank blows out the hose.

 

[ScaldedDog]

I just have an auto drain on mine. I didn't need it to drain every 45 minutes (the max interval on the one I have), so I plugged it into a wifi-controlled outlet, and set it to energize for a minute every morning. The net of all that is the compressor gets a 2 second drain every day.

Every month is nowhere near often enough.

Mark

 

[Citation]

I have a similar sized vertical compressor. I have a drain line similar to this
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Extended-Tank-Drain-Valve-Assembly-072-0023H/205183928
Easy enough. An auto drain would be nice but I'm too cheap and currently don't use my garage enough to justify it. Maybe in the future.

 

[rayra]

90deg throw ball valve is the way to go, to hell with the petcocks usually installed.

that said I just have the petcock sightly cracked open. I don't use mine frequently and when I do rarely more than an hour or two. And I never leave things pressurized. So I just let it bleed down, which also spits out the small amount of water. It's Vegas, 15% humidity most of the time. Except when it sprinkles just enough to make our cars look even dirtier.

 

[nadogail]

Took out the pet **** and installed a street ell, came out of the street ell with a ******, connected a ball valve that i can operate with my toe.

 

[rwreuter]

Screw a ****** into the bottom and place a ball valve in it....drain periodically.......NO NEED TO DO IT EVERY TIME YOU USE IT.

 

[Sumboodie]

I just have an auto drain on mine. I didn't need it to drain every 45 minutes (the max interval on the one I have), so I plugged it into a wifi-controlled outlet, and set it to energize for a minute every morning. The net of all that is the compressor gets a 2 second drain every day.

Every month is nowhere near often enough.

Mark

Depends on location and usage.

I drain mine maybe once or twice a year. It's frozen ~6 months a year though. I don't get much out of it.

 

[mike93lx]

On my portable, I drain it when I hear water sloshing around in the tank.

But it's aluminum

On my last large comp, I did what many here have suggested and added an elbow and a ball valve to replace the stabdard petcock.

 

[jeep63]

This thread is timely for me. I just moved and my compressor has not yet been anchored and hooked up. I will add a more convenient drain now. When we moved I cracked the petcock and it drained oily water for quite a while slowly and over a few days; it just dripped out over time since there was no pressure.

I hope to be better about draining it in the new garage with an easier setup to drain...

 

[65ranchero]

Took out the pet **** and installed a street ell, came out of the street ell with a ******, connected a ball valve that i can operate with my toe.

^^^^^^^That's what I do.
My tank is vertical and the original twist open drain was a pain to open and had to get on my knees to open it.

I also will open the drain from time to time If its not been used for a while , sometimes I get a little moisture sometimes not.

 

[kbs2244]

hook a broom stick handle to the ball valve and route the output hose through a hole in the wall to make it so easy to do that you have no excuse not to it

 

[dawgn86]

Thanks for all the replies!..I will figure out something.

I also read where you can attach a small muffler to quiet these down while running. Has anyone done this?
Craftsman 33 Gallon horizontal air compressor that is about 18 years old. Model # is 919.165330.

 

[mike93lx]

Thanks for all the replies!..I will figure out something.

I also read where you can attach a small muffler to quiet these down while running. Has anyone done this?
Craftsman 33 Gallon horizontal air compressor that is about 18 years old. Model # is 919.165330.

Lots of info here on intake silencers. Searching will definitely yield you something to work with

 

[Citation]

Looking at that model,

Craftsman 919.165330 Parts - Air Compressor Parts Online

Get Craftsman 919.165330 Parts at Air Compressor Parts Online. Our site is easy to shop and we have online schematics, tech docs and videos available.

aircompressorpartsonline.com

it might take a bit more to create an intake muffler system. A number of compressors have a simple threaded connector where the muffler/air filter housing attaches. You might have to fab up something for that model. Do search on YT for air compressor muffler ideas.

My compressor came with this rectangular filter
https://www.fix.com/parts/compresso...ir-filter-assembly-4-quot-diameter-vh901700av
Part was lost in a move so I replaced the whole thing with the updated one here

AIR FILTER HOUSING W/ELEMENT #01A916

Element only for air filter assembly. Our site is easy to shop and we have online schematics, tech docs and videos available.

mastertoolrepair.com

plus 14" of rubber hose slipped over the intake port. Yes the rubber hose really matters. It's a trick I learned from my California Air Tools compressor.
Something like this minus the PVC part - that compressor is very similar to mine.

 

[dawgn86]

on the horizontal model, where would the intake silencer screw into? is it 3/8" NPT

 

[Relax]

I'm planning on eventually getting one of these so I don't need to get under my horizontal. I'd be in more of a rush, but I drained my tank for the first time in 20 years this past summer, and what little came out was barely enough to get my fingers wet.

https://www.princessauto.com/en/air-compressor-drain-extension-kit/product/PA0009026642

 

[mike93lx]

on the horizontal model, where would the intake silencer screw into? is it 3/8" NPT

To the pump's air intake. The tank orientation doesn't matter

 

[haveissues]

At my last place I plumbed the air intake up and through the ceiling into the attic. Made a big difference.

 

[PhantomEB]

At my last place I plumbed the air intake up and through the ceiling into the attic. Made a big difference.

Hmmmm now that’s a really cold air intake!

I might do the same…..time for me to buy a decibel reader!