do not forget to drain your compessors

[PhantomEB]

Quite a bit of water is coming out my air tools, so guess I best be draining the tank tomorrow before any work gets done this weekend.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Since I read this earlier today, I drained mine and it didn't have much in it luckily. The one at the firehouse, while I was talking to the Chief, sounded weird to him. So we walked over, checked the oil and drained the tank. It was about 3/4 full of a #10 can.

 

[71goldss]

I've always drained my compressor of air and water after every use. I leave the drain valve open, then close it at time of next use. Just always been part of my start up and shut down procedure. Mine's a 60 gal vertical and I just use my foot to open and close the ball valve at the bottom. If I'm using it for any length of time, I'll also drain off my dropouts, filter and compressor every so often. I never had much need to keep it aired up when not in use.

 

[jvitez]

Since everyone on GJ loves pictures, me included, here's an old thread of mine showing what I did, check out post #6:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69299

If I know I'll be using the compressor regularly I've leave it pumped up, but otherwise I drain it and leave the valve open until I need it again. It works for my intermittent/hobby use.

 

[ZRX61]

I have a 60gal, gets drained maybe 3 or 4 times a year, about a teaspoon of water each time. Living in the Mojave Desert has some advantages
That's not here at the moment though so I have a 30gal HF POS that can't pump past 90si or so.. well, I'm not exactly sure what the PSI reaches as the cardboard gauge faces weren't secured in place so they move about.. it could be anywhere from 50 to 150psi...

& it will bleed all the air off in about 3 days if I don't use it. I intend to replace all the hardware so that stops.

 

[Jas29]

question didn't want to start a new thread should u keep the drain open if you are not going to be using the air compressor for awhile??

 

[nti06]

I watched one of my auto shop customers pour a quart of white rustoleum paint into his brand new 80 gallon compressor tank while I was there on a sales call. He laid it on its side on a moving blanket and rolled it back and forth. It didn't have oil in it yet and he took all the valves off. He said he was going to give it 2 days to dry and then start using it. He was replacing his old compressor because it had pin hole leaks rusted into it. It came with the shop so he had no idea how old it was.

 

[01ssreda4]

Foot operated ball valve on mine too, drain daily after last use. Scares the **** outta the cat and any kids nearby.

 

[PCO6]

question didn't want to start a new thread should u keep the drain open if you are not going to be using the air compressor for awhile??

I do and I don't think it has had any negative effects.

 

[chadman]

I do and I don't think it has had any negative effects.

Do you really think it has any positive effects either? To all of you who completely drain the tank and leave the valve open, what are you trying to accomplish? I fail to see the point.

 

[zmotorsports]

question didn't want to start a new thread should u keep the drain open if you are not going to be using the air compressor for awhile??

I don't, but that is because I use it daily.

I open it just enough to drain off the moisture and then close it back up, open and give it one last blast of air and the close it. Usually it isn't even enough to drop the pressure enough to kick the compressor on.

Mike.

 

[chadman]

I open it just enough to drain off the moisture and then close it back up, open and give it one last blast of air and the close it. Usually it isn't even enough to drop the pressure enough to kick the compressor on.

Mike.

Exactly what I do.

 

[copterdoctor]

I have a big Ingersol Rand compressor. 60 gallon IIRC. I've had it for about 3 years now. It doesn't get used a whole lot now that I am working out of state and don't fiddle around down in the shop every night,but, I've drained it a handful of times (3-4) in 3 years and have never had more than maybe a teaspoon come out. I live in AK, and it is pretty dry but not desert dry. The shop is heated once the thermostat goes below 40 degrees. But even in the dead of winter the shop heater rarely comes on. I guess I'm just lucky?

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Do you really think it has any positive effects either? To all of you who completely drain the tank and leave the valve open, what are you trying to accomplish? I fail to see the point.

You cannot drain your tank of air completely to a vacuum situation. As such it is still subject to humidity changes that may collect water, not to mention temperature swings in a non-climate controlled garage. If the drain is left open any water collected will hopefully drop through the drain. Not a bad idea, if tank is left without use for a long time. Maybe not necessary, but likely better than leaving it closed.

 

[Sureshot]

You cannot drain your tank of air completely to a vacuum situation. As such it is still subject to humidity changes that may collect water, not to mention temperature swings in a non-climate controlled garage. If the drain is left open any water collected will hopefully drop through the drain. Not a bad idea, if tank is left without use for a long time. Maybe not necessary, but likely better than leaving it closed.

The volume of air needed to pressurize the tank from empty will contain far more moisture than any temp swings could dream of introducing. Plus if you leave the valve open you are opening the tank to air moving in and out. Once you have compressed the air into the tank leave it there and drain the moisture.

Very simple and not sure why people want to complicate it but do as you wish. Next thing you know we will be displacing tanks with nitrogen between uses.

 

[BMW Rider]

I drain my 60 gallon compressor every few months. It does not get too much use and it's typically very dry here. I usually only get a cup or so of water out of it.

 

[PCO6]

Do you really think it has any positive effects either? To all of you who completely drain the tank and leave the valve open, what are you trying to accomplish? I fail to see the point.

No negative effects - no positive effects. I don't think it matters if you leave the drain open or not. When I return to my garage after "awhile" (a day, a week, ??) I flick the switch and I get air. I'm happy.

 

[soj]

Quote:
Originally Posted by PCO6
I do and I don't think it has had any negative effects.

Do you really think it has any positive effects either? To all of you who completely drain the tank and leave the valve open, what are you trying to accomplish? I fail to see the point.

What they are doing is draining out the small amount of water in the tank, and a LARGE amount of compressed air (depending on tank size), that they paid to compress, but got NO use out of. Then, when they close the valve, and pay again to compress more air they also introduce more water into the tank.

If you only open the drain long enough to get liquid out, you have done enough. Leave it open any longer, even if a misty vapor is coming out, and you are wasting compressed air.

How often to drain? No way to make a blanket rule, too many variables of humidity, amount and frequency of use. You have to set your own schedule based on your experience of how much water you get when you drain.

 

[Quickster]

Ball valve on the bottom of mine. Drain it after every use, just open it slightly until water starts to come out and close it up once I notice the water has stopped shooting out.

So basically I open it for about 5 secs or so and then close it and its fine. Don't lose much air at all.

 

[RV77]

For all you guys that have the line going outside thru the wall,do you have anything on the outside to keep insects and such from clogging the line ? Or do you just blast the hell out of the them when you drain the tank ?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Quote:
Originally Posted by PCO6
I do and I don't think it has had any negative effects.



What they are doing is draining out the small amount of water in the tank, and a LARGE amount of compressed air (depending on tank size), that they paid to compress, but got NO use out of. Then, when they close the valve, and pay again to compress more air they also introduce more water into the tank.

If you only open the drain long enough to get liquid out, you have done enough. Leave it open any longer, even if a misty vapor is coming out, and you are wasting compressed air.

How often to drain? No way to make a blanket rule, too many variables of humidity, amount and frequency of use. You have to set your own schedule based on your experience of how much water you get when you drain.

THIS ^^^^ a hundred times over.

No logic to bleeding the air pressure off the tank after ever use, and no logic in leaving the drain open either, but hey, its their money and their compressor.

Charles

 

[PCO6]

... its their money and their compressor.

That's right. How much money are we talking about?

 

[ZRX61]

What they are doing is draining out the small amount of water in the tank, and a LARGE amount of compressed air (depending on tank size), that they paid to compress, but got NO use out of. Then, when they close the valve, and pay again to compress more air they also introduce more water into the tank.

If you only open the drain long enough to get liquid out, you have done enough. Leave it open any longer, even if a misty vapor is coming out, and you are wasting compressed air.

Not to mention increased wear on the pump etc. Absolutely no reason to drain the tank completely unless you REALLY like hearing the pump work. My 60 gas Devilbis is about 16 years old. It's been drained of air twice: Once when I installed the ball valves on the drain & the outlet & once again when I moved & it went into storage.

 

[soj]

That's right. How much money are we talking about?

Not just the cost of the electricity (not much), but wear and tear on the motor and pump (not much), but it all adds up over time.

"A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon, you're talking real money." -Everett Dirksen

 

[MP&C]

Gotcha covered.... I have one on the compressor, one on the end of the air line.....

 

[PCO6]

Not just the cost of the electricity (not much), but wear and tear on the motor and pump (not much), but it all adds up over time.

"A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon, you're talking real money." -Everett Dirksen

That's what I figured ... "not much".

 

[sberry]

Feeling better about yourself is priceless even if it is useless.

 

[CARS]

When I bought my shop it came with a 5hp, 2-stage compressor. Pump and motor were only a few years old but the tank was original... 1948.

After a couple years in business the "boiler and pressure vessel" police showed up and did some sonic (for lack of the proper term) testing to the tank. He condemned it on the spot by bleeding off the air and drilling a couple holes in the tank. It was pretty thin on the bottom. No hurt feelings.

I have replaced that tank and drain in quite often. My lines all have various filters for their intended use. It's not uncommon for me to drain the tank 6 times a day under heavy use such as media blasting or painting. I just walk by and open the ball valve. Just like the tank, I give the air line drops a quick bleed too when I walk by them.

 

[ScaldedDog]

Autodrain hooked up to a light timer. Drains every day, with no effort or remembering to do it.

Mark

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

 

[hippie2cams]

I recently aquired a compressor from my sil, never does any maintenance on anything. He buys used from pawn shops uses until quits then buys another one. The one I got he was taking to dump because it wouldn't pump up as fast as he thought it should,so I told him to let me look at it and he said here you can have it, it don't work anyway. Well I plugged it in and it took a long time to pressurize. the drain plug was broken off and the wheel frame was bent and so was the stand for the isolaters . I found a new drain at our localHF and some compressor oil and proceeded to tear into it . when I pulled the drain plug nothing happened. no water nothing came out, for a while, then some ugly black sludge started to drip and when I got down to see what it was I heard a gurgle and believe me when I tell you (you can't move fast enough). all the goup and dirty brown water went rushing across the garage floor like had a mind all it's own. After the cleanup which was extensive, I changed the oil and looked at the airfilter popoff valve and made sure everything worked. turned it on and let it blow through drain until I was satisfied then closed new drain and let pumpup. It runs just a short time until pressured and stops air tools seem like they are more powerful than before and compressor seems to run way less and less noisy also. so a freeby does come back to life every now and then.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

That's right. How much money are we talking about?

Why, I'm sure you could have bought a Ferrari with it by now.

Plus if you leave the valve open you are opening the tank to air moving in and out.

That's the whole idea in this situation. Air moving in and out is far better than stale air subject to humidity with nowhere to go.

Keep in mind, some of us use our compressors very little. In that situation, I would opine that empty tank-open valve is best.

 

[Diverbill45]

I drain my tank after each days use. By draining I mean that I open the drain valve just long enough to get all the liquid out, then shut the valve. This way I don't put undo wear and tear on the compressor motor and pump, by having it pump up 60 gallons of fresh air each day before it goes into use.

The reason that I don't completly drain the tank is that I'm also a scuba diver and have been for many years and years ago I was told that you were always suppose to leave some air in the scuba tank even if you were not going to be using it all the time. Scuba tanks are hydroed every 5 years and I get mine visually inspected every year. The shop where I get my tanks inspected and tested said that the main reason you always leave some air in the tank is that air under pressure helps to prevent rust and corrosion on the inside of the tank. When a scuba tank is filled it is set into a tub of water and pumped up to 2500 - 3000 lbs of air. Pumping that amount of air into a 80 cu. ft. tank causes the compressed air to become very hot. Once that amount of compressed air cools down a small amount of moisture will form inside the tank. Each time the tank is filled the same process happens again. When the tank gets a visual inspection they are looking for a rust/corrosion buildup inside the tank. A couple of my tanks are over 25 years old and still pass both visual and hydro inspections.

Basically both types of tanks work on the same principal except that the air compressor tank works on a much lower scale and volume, 175 lbs psi for 60 gallons as compared to 3000 lbs psi. for 80 cu. ft. in the scuba tank.

I also turn off the breaker to my compressor at the end of each day. The reason for this is that a few years ago I was working at a fab shop that had a large compressor (25 hp.) and we were told that the owner insisted that the breaker be shut off each day. One guy worked late one day and was in a rush to lockup and leave for a 3 day holiday weekend. He didn't flip the breaker and during that 3 day weekend one of the air hoses broke and the compressor ran until it burnt itself up. Needless to say the owner wasn't too happy about replacing that compressor.

These are the reasons I drain just the liquid moisture out of my compressor tank and always flip the breaker, at the end of each day.

Hope this helps.

 

[GRN96WS6]

I empty after every use since my use of it is sporadic at best. I also leave the valve open, but I need to find a new one since the handle on mine is not long enough to get leverage on it to drain it easily.

 

[PCO6]

Why, I'm sure you could have bought a Ferrari with it by now.

I don't like red.

... the "boiler and pressure vessel" police ...

Do they wear red? It sounds like I wouldn't like them either.

Feeling better about yourself is priceless even if it is useless.

I'm not sure which side of this non-issue you are on but that makes good sense to me.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I empty after every use since my use of it is sporadic at best. I also leave the valve open

Just changed my original CA valve to a ball valve and pipe option. Way better now. Im still leaving it open and will until if and when I see that I'm using the compressor more often for working on my truck and such, which I couldn't do in the old garage. Then it'll just be a water purge.

 

[CARS]

Do they wear red? It sounds like I wouldn't like them either.

No. I didn't like them either but I guess he may have saved my *** by condemning that tank.

What is really funny about that section of State Government is that he use to stop by every 2 years, test, and after paying $35.00, he would place a State of Minnesota sticker on the tank with the month and year punched (like a battery). Now they just send me a bill "registering" the tank for $10.00 a year

Guess they don't care about rotted out tanks anymore, just $$$$$$$

 

[sberry]

Mine was off a week or so while I replaced a bearing and put a set of rings in near 20 years ago, off for a couple hours for service and under pressure since 1972 or so.

 

[pepi]

Got an auto drain never think about it.

 

[Jazz]

I bought a small pancake compressor this weekend and while inspecting it, realized I hadn't openned the drain on my small 5hp oiless in years. I openned it and got about a cup of very rusty water out.

Thanks for the remindsr.

 

[soj]

Got an auto drain never think about it.

^^^^^^^ What he said. I have this one, made in USA (at least the brass valve portion, electronics are Asian), can't beat the price, esp. compared to Ingersoll Rand.