compressor drain question

[gcan]

I recently purchased a Craftsman 33 gallon 2hp vertical compressor and in the instructions it says to bleed it down and open the drain valve on the bottom after each use. It is a pain in the rear or should I say knees to drain it down and I was looking for some advise. Has anybody repiped the valve to make it easier to access? The times I have drained it it does have water in it so obviuosly it needs to be done, oh I don't have a floor drain either.....ideas?

Also I just replaced the factory regulator with a regulator filter I purchased from Harbor freight to hopefully pull out some of the moisture. The last time I used it my air ratchet had a bit of water coming out. Has anybody done this of have a better solution?

Thanks in advance for any input or ideas.
Greg

 

[dxdexter]

Does it have an automatic drain , manual drain or both? Some auto drains must be below 8psi to operate. If you can manually drain off the water then I would leave it pressurized.

I sometimes place a oil absorbing pad under mine, but usually I'll drain it and then throw some kitty litter on the water. You could also place a low baking pan under the valve.

You can pipe the valve to a more accessible location, but don't change its height or place it in a position where it may be struck by falling objects.

 

[gcan]

it's a manual drain in the center of the tank on the bottom. My problem is it is about a inch off the floor so I have to get on my knees with a pair of pliers to open the valve....such a pain. I was wondering if I could pipe it to the front of the compressor and putting some type of valve so I can reach it without having to crawl. If so would I need anything special for a valve or hey maybe I could reuse the existing one.

Has anybody had this problem or done this?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

You could rig up a higher drain if you wanted. Use a pipe street ell fitting, 1/8 or 1/4, whatever the fitting in the bottom of the tank is, install it in the place of the drain. Then run a piece of pipe horizontal that just clears the sides of the tank, an elbow pointing up, another section of pipe coming up high enough that a bucker will slide under, then another elbow pointing out, and a close ****** and an elbow or a street ell, pointing down, and either reinstall the existing drain petcock or use some sort of ball valve. Slide a bucket up under the drain, and drain away (using tank pressure to push the water out) beware, it will spit alot when you drain all the water out.

Charles

 

[dxdexter]

You can pipe the valve to a more accessible location, but don't change its height or place it in a position where it may be struck by falling objects.

I should qualify my comments. Don't change height by using any other outlet than the lowest one (I know it seems obvious). As Charles stated you can pipe it up the side of the tank . Be aware that if you expose compressor to freezing temperatures you may split the pipes used for the extension of the drain.

 

[Kurn]

If you can get the old drain off,take it to a parts store for heavy trucks,and ask for a lanyard operated drain in your size.They usually come with a 3 or 4 ft. cable on them,so all you have to do pull on it.

 

[dxdexter]

If you can get the old drain off,take it to a parts store for heavy trucks,and ask for a lanyard operated drain in your size.They usually come with a 3 or 4 ft. cable on them,so all you have to do pull on it.

Excellent idea. I didn't even think of that. It may not fit into the space limitations, but with an street elbow into the tank bottom it would work horizontally. The problem with collecting the water/oil would still exist.

 

[BillK]

Dex,
I have both my 2 1/2hp Sears at home and my 10HP at the shop plumbed out to the side where I can reach the drain easily. I am going to disagree with those that say you can run it up the side of the tank, I think you want it to be able to gravity drain by itself. At the shop, we open it every AM before we turn the compressor on and we usually get a pint or so of water out of it. The one at home I do when I am done with the compressor, I dont use it that often. I just turn the compressor off and open the valve slightly and let it drain. I have an old towel on the floor to sop up the water.

 

[dxdexter]

Dex,
I have both my 2 1/2hp Sears at home and my 10HP at the shop plumbed out to the side where I can reach the drain easily. I am going to disagree with those that say you can run it up the side of the tank, I think you want it to be able to gravity drain by itself. At the shop, we open it every AM before we turn the compressor on and we usually get a pint or so of water out of it. The one at home I do when I am done with the compressor, I dont use it that often. I just turn the compressor off and open the valve slightly and let it drain. I have an old towel on the floor to sop up the water.

If you are going to gravity drain under no pressure then definitely running line up the tank would not work. It would be advisable to put two drain ***** in place, one below the tank level and one up where "gcan" could satisfy his need to collect the liquid and not have to drain the pressure each day. The higher drain would only work with tank pressurized.

 

[mulepackin]

Do a search on this forum under compressor drains. There has been alot of discussion on manual and auto drains. Personally, I put a street el on mine, then about a 3 inch ******, then a 1/4 turn ball valve. Now all I have to do is bend over and turn the valve and let it go. I usually just sop up the drainage the next day with a rag I keep handy. This just one of many great ideas I found on this site.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

My idea for the elevated drain came from a compressor we used to have in the shop where I first started aircraft mechanicing. I have no idea what brand it was, but it was a 5 hp or better 80 gal two stage, commercial compressor, probably from the mid to late '50's. It had a factory drain that was inside the tank and came out thru the side just high enough for a 5 gal bucket to fit under, with a drain valve of some sort on it.

Charles

 

[alankulwicki7]

I did what mulepackin did and it works great. I've used this setup for over 5 years and haven't had a problem. When I'm done using the compressor, I'll just open the valve part way and leave it that way until I use it again. Usually there's only a little water on the floor and since it's under my compressor, I just let it evaporate.