Compressor Tank Draining

[TxDoc]

Every so often, I will open the tank drain and just leave it for a day or two. Is that a waste of time? Or, is that what should be anyway?
Thanks

 

[jdh123]

no its not a waste because if you dont the tank will collect moisture. i drain mine once a week

 

[ZRX61]

I haven't left mine open (except to blow out the water) in the past 10 years....

 

[Uncle Buck]

The only time I ever left the drain in a tank open was when I had pressure up and I was blowing the water out while running.

 

[SteveU]

You don't have to leave it open, all you have to do is open it until the air coming out is not like a mist then close it back up. If you always drain all the air pressure out of your tank it is not a big deal to leave it open but I keep mine pressurized all the time to be ready to use it without having to wait the 6 min for it to pressurize.

 

[gibbon_guy]

I drain my tank every time I use it. I also use an inline filter to trap any additional moisture to keep it out of my air tools.

 

[PoorOwner]

When I used the compressor in any way I wait overnight until the air in the tank cooled then drain the next day
I added a extension and ball valve the good thing is that it provide a little space for water to go to instead of sitting at the tank bottom. I used brass hardware so that is not going to rust either.

 

[Steve_S]

I know it's recommended to drain the tank regularly, but where I live the air is so dry that I can literally go 5 years without draining and get almost no moisture when i finally open it up. Maybe a small spritz and that's it. I do run a water trap but it never traps anything!

 

[vjquan]

You don't have to leave it open, all you have to do is open it until the air coming out is not like a mist then close it back up. If you always drain all the air pressure out of your tank it is not a big deal to leave it open but I keep mine pressurized all the time to be ready to use it without having to wait the 6 min for it to pressurize.

I agree! This is exactly what I do too. It'll save on motor and cylinder wear as well.

 

[Lyaec350]

So if you let it pump up to pressure, then cool down and crack the valve to shoot the water out you can leave the tank pressurized but w/ minimal moisture in it? Like a previous poster said, I'd rather not have to wait 10 mins for my tank to fill up every time I want to fill tires or blow something off...

 

[PAToyota]

So if you let it pump up to pressure, then cool down and crack the valve to shoot the water out you can leave the tank pressurized but w/ minimal moisture in it?

I keep my tank pressurized 24/7/365 with an automatic drain because around here even in winter it is humid enough to get condensate...

 

[eschoendorff]

When I used the compressor in any way I wait overnight until the air in the tank cooled then drain the next day
I added a extension and ball valve the good thing is that it provide a little space for water to go to instead of sitting at the tank bottom. I used brass hardware so that is not going to rust either.

That's what I did too... if the water is not sitting at the bottom of the tank, then I think you're good. Just blow it out from time to time...