Any problem with leaving a portable compressor filled over time?

[psurunner]

As the thread title says.

I have a HF 10 gallon portable and it holds air just fine, so far I just leave it charged up for my very occasional use.

Thanks!

 

[HandyManny]

I'd decompress it after use. Won't hurt to keep it filled over night or even for a few days, but I wouldn't get into the habit of being this negligent. These things pull moisture from the air and that moisture will eventually rust the tank from the inside out. You sure don't want corrosion to cause the tank to burst on you someday. After decompressing it all the way I'd leave the drain valve open while letting the motor pump run for a couple minutes to force out any accumulated water.

 

[route246]

I leave my charged at all times. I also drain the water out of it periodically.

 

[Zrexxer]

Only time I ever depressurize a compressor is if I've got to change a fitting.

 

[Mstrfxit12]

I wouldnt expect any problems with leaving the tank charged at all times as long as you manage the condensate. I have tanks that are 20 years old and have been charged non stop for that entire time expect during inspections. Your tank will ultmiately get thinner from corrosion over the years. There should be a head and shell thickness measurment on the stamp. If the tank is old you should have it measured with a UT (ultrasonic thickness) gauge to make sure its still safe. These are pretty costly meters so if you have one to borrow thats great. At the minimum you may want to pull the inspection bung on the tank just to look inside and make sure the rust isnt too advanced. If it is, scrap the tank. A tank failure is ugly.

 

[Lightfoot]

I don't think i've ever emptied mine completely except when i was putting a new drain valve on it. It's a small horizontal Coleman, and i've had it for 17 years. I do open the drain about once a week and let moisture out, but other than that, it stays charged all the time.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'd decompress it after use. Won't hurt to keep it filled over night or even for a few days, but I wouldn't get into the habit of being this negligent. These things pull moisture from the air and that moisture will eventually rust the tank from the inside out. You sure don't want corrosion to cause the tank to burst on you someday. After decompressing it all the way I'd leave the drain valve open while letting the motor pump run for a couple minutes to force out any accumulated water.

It's not a problem to leave it pressurized. I've had mine under pressure for most of 30 years.

As to the moisture, that gets wrung out of the compressed air as soon as it is compressed; its not going to go away because you depressurized it. That is why these things have drains and other moisture handling things to deal with the moisture.

 

[Roots]

I always thought keeping it pressurized was a good way to keep condensation out of them. Although it will still require regularly, blowing the water out, as a compressor condensers the moisture in the air into water as Outlawmws mentioned above.

 

[HandyManny]

It's not a problem to leave it pressurized. I've had mine under pressure for most of 30 years.

As to the moisture, that gets wrung out of the compressed air as soon as it is compressed; its not going to go away because you depressurized it. That is why these things have drains and other moisture handling things to deal with the moisture.

Those drain valves only allow water to drain once they are being decompressed. You leave them open once fully empty and run the motor to force all the condensation out.

 

[Zrexxer]

Those drain valves only allow water to drain once they are being decompressed.

Not true at all. I drain the condensate out of my Champion 80 gallon tank every time I use it, at 175 psi.

 

[HandyManny]

Not true at all. I drain the condensate out of my Champion 80 gallon tank every time I use it, at 175 psi.

Are you talking about through an independent drain valve or are saying you drain it through the use of the pneumatic tool?

 

[Zrexxer]

Are you talking about through an independent drain valve or are saying you drain it through the use of the pneumatic tool?

How - or more importantly, WHY - would I try to drain condensate through a pneumatic tool?

Of course it's through a drain valve. Water, still being subject to gravity, collects in the bottom of the tank, where the drain is coincidentally located. A 1/4 turn of the ball valve blows about a 1/4 pint of water out at 175 psi every time I drain it. The tank never - NEVER - gets depressurized.

 

[mixxmstrmike]

For a 10 gallon tank, I would drain it. Do yourself a favor and time the duration it takes to pressurize the tank. Ask yourself if it's worth the wait every time you need compressed air.

It takes me approximately 8 minutes to fill up my 60-gallon Quincy. Besides time, I'm wasting electricity to charge up the tank.

My 4-gallon portable gets drained, the 60-gallon gets opened up a few times a month to release the condensate.

-Mike

 

[Big Gus]

If it were me, I wouldn't worry about it. We have a compressor on the farm that we never drain and it's over 30 years old. It's not in the nicest of places either.

 

[tkonetzke]

I used to service air compressors annually for a previous employer. Had about 60 compressors scattered through dozens of warehouses statewide. The warehouse personnel were instructed to drain water from tank weekly. I recall some 20 gallon tanks draining a full 5 gallon pail. I was quite certain I was the only one who drained them, once a year when I changed the oil and filter. I know this was not good for the tank but I know some of these were in service for 10 to 15 years without issue