Compressor drain idea- opinions?

[Fuzzydog]

Ok, I don't use my compressor as much as I would like to because I hate filling the tank and then draining afterwards. Here's an idea I have for draining water from the tank without having to drain the air. I'm willing to listen to yay/nay opinions....

The compressor is a 5hp, 220V 33 gal horizontal tank with a drain petcock on the bottom, pretty close to the shop floor. I was thinking of raising the compressor about 2 ft off the floor on some sort of cradle. Then I would replace the drain petcock with about a foot of copper line, with a valve right at the tank, and another at the bottom.

The idea would be the bottom valve is closed usually, and the top valve is open. This would allow any condensation to collect in the 1 ft of tubing. When I want to drain the water, close the top valve, open the bottom and let the water out without losing the air. Then close the bottom, and open the top again for usage.


Waddayathink?

 

[bhays]

My compressor is in a shed away from the garage and doesn't get drained anywhere near often enough. I am going to get one of the auto drain kits from HF and install it, from what I hear, they work pretty well.

Here's a page with detailed instructions from someone who installed one of these:

http://www.paragoncode.com/shop/compressor/

and here's the actual kit: Auto Drain Kit

Certainly worth the 10 buck gamble I think.

 

[MXtras]

Another idea is to simply plumb the drain to a convenient location with a valve at the end. Regardless of the elevation, the air pressure will push the collected water out of the tank and the line provided the plumbing is not all that big (ie: 1/8" pipe, 1/4" pipe).

Scott

 

[Jeff_K_H]

Ok, I don't use my compressor as much as I would like to because I hate filling the tank and then draining afterwards. Here's an idea I have for draining water from the tank without having to drain the air. I'm willing to listen to yay/nay opinions....

The compressor is a 5hp, 220V 33 gal horizontal tank with a drain petcock on the bottom, pretty close to the shop floor. I was thinking of raising the compressor about 2 ft off the floor on some sort of cradle. Then I would replace the drain petcock with about a foot of copper line, with a valve right at the tank, and another at the bottom.

The idea would be the bottom valve is closed usually, and the top valve is open. This would allow any condensation to collect in the 1 ft of tubing. When I want to drain the water, close the top valve, open the bottom and let the water out without losing the air. Then close the bottom, and open the top again for usage.


Waddayathink?

This sounds like a good plan to me. Similar set-up are used in dry-pipe fire sprinkler systems.

 

[gmasterman]

I simply removed the drain valve alltogether and installed some stainless tubing and a stainless ball valve. It is simple to open the ballvalve with my foot and drain the water out without having to bend over. The amout of air I loose is so tiny that it is not a problem. I can tell by the sound when the water flow is about to stop and start letting air out. BTW, I hate the petcock valves-all there good for is to make a big mess all over your hand and the floor underneath

 

[66RICH]

I did the same as gmasterman, work's great. I plumbed it out
the back wall, no mess.
Rich

 

[REFLEXX]

I'm with rich. it's simple and effective.

I actually will have the compressor in a "bunker" outside. Then I will run a line in, a valve and a line back out. This way I don't even have to go outside to give it a quick drain.

 

[bmwpower]

All these ideas are great!

Only one thing comes to mind... if you live in a cold environment and the drain line is plumbed outside, make sure there is no residual water left in the line after draining, especially on those small diameter lines. You may want to pitch the line going out the wall.

 

[Fuzzydog]

Excellent info guys - thanks all for chiming in. Now I know what I will be doing for part of this weekend