Do you leave your air compressor on?
- Thread starter Aspen RT
- Start date
I leave my air compressor along with my air dehumidifier on all the time,, except when I leave town for a week or more.
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evildky
Well-known member
yup, I leave mine on 24/7, mine is a 60 gallon 7.5 hp IR, I have a tiny air leak at the oil sepperator so if I'm out of town for more then a few days I simply shut the valve where it exits the tank and no more leak but the compressor is still on
54FordPanel
Well-known member
I do not leave mine on all the time. But I leave air in the tank all the time.
I turn it off when I leave the shop because I can imagine a hose splitting or something, and the compressor would run and run until it burned itself off.
I can't think of any benefit to leaving the power on all the time. If you have leaks, and it bleeds down unless it's on all the time, the leaks should be found.
I turn it off when I leave the shop because I can imagine a hose splitting or something, and the compressor would run and run until it burned itself off.
I can't think of any benefit to leaving the power on all the time. If you have leaks, and it bleeds down unless it's on all the time, the leaks should be found.
Ditto.
I used to leave mine on 24/7, but one morning I walked out to the shop and found the compressor running all night long because an air line broke. The whole shop smelled like hot oil from the compressor.
turn them all off at work every night. Home is off unless I need air then back off, stays pressurized so it is just flick of the switch. I have seen too many air line failures that left a compressor running.
5.
bochnak
Well-known member
Nope.
ptschram
Well-known member
Switch for the compressor is right next to the main light switch so I can turn it off as I'm leaving each afternoon.
If I don't leave any air tools attached, it doesn't bleed down over night.
If I don't leave any air tools attached, it doesn't bleed down over night.
mine is USUALLY OFF at the breaker.
I've got a ball valve at the tank so i can keep the tank pressurized w/out the line being
pressurized or potentially leaking down over time.
I dont have an auto drain but i DO drain the tank at least every month....i let the water
off but dont necessarily <completely> drain the tank.
I've got a ball valve at the tank so i can keep the tank pressurized w/out the line being
pressurized or potentially leaking down over time.
I dont have an auto drain but i DO drain the tank at least every month....i let the water
off but dont necessarily <completely> drain the tank.
Heavy Metal Doctor
Well-known member
Turned off at he breaker anytime we're not there working. A blown line would allow it to run until it burned itself up, so hitting the breaker as part of the normal shutdown routine is just the easiest way to avoid that sistuation.
wood02
Well-known member
Off.
Gary S
Well-known member
Both my small one and my bigger one have a manual switch on the pressure switch. I always turn them off when not in use.
MartyO
Well-known member
I was shutting mine off all teh time.
I do have leaks so it bleeds down.
I am putting a cut off inside the building right where main line from the compressor enters the building. Once that is in, I will shut the cut off and leave the compressor on.
I am told that it is better not to have to run teh compressor to build pressure all the time. Supposedly it is harsher on the motor than periodic cycling.
I do have leaks so it bleeds down.
I am putting a cut off inside the building right where main line from the compressor enters the building. Once that is in, I will shut the cut off and leave the compressor on.
I am told that it is better not to have to run teh compressor to build pressure all the time. Supposedly it is harsher on the motor than periodic cycling.
Mine is off unless I'm using it. You should be draining your tanks at minimum once a week, esspecially if you live in a real humid area. I live in the midwest and if it is humid out, I will drain it at the end of the day. No need to drain the entire tank, just drain until you aren't getting water anymore. I have had probably close to a quarter gallon of water from running a compressor hard in just one day. If you don't drain your tank, rust and pressure will do it for you at some point.
I used to leave it on all the time, but the drive belt broke one day and I didn't catch it until the next morning. It didn't seem to hurt the motor running all night, a new drive belt installed and all was well. I also leave it pressurized.
DirtyWhiteBoy
Well-known member
I normally shut it down. I just ran copper lines, and have been I debating the subject (with myself
)..
I plan on running a hard line to the hose reel, so I guess I'll keep it turned off for WHEN the hose pops.
When I was 7 or 8, I remember coming into dad's shop after lunch, there had been a hose failure. A hose end blew off, and it was taking turns beating on a ss/rs convert Camaro and an E type Jag, both compressors screaming.
).. I plan on running a hard line to the hose reel, so I guess I'll keep it turned off for WHEN the hose pops.
When I was 7 or 8, I remember coming into dad's shop after lunch, there had been a hose failure. A hose end blew off, and it was taking turns beating on a ss/rs convert Camaro and an E type Jag, both compressors screaming.
ptschram
Well-known member
Breakers are not intended to be the primary switch for a device. Most breakers are rated for a few thousand cycles, where as switches are usually rated for up to a million operations before failure.
If you look at all, you can find DPST switches that will withstand the starting current for your compressor.
z28snksknr
Well-known member
I have a small (for this forum) compressor and it stays on 24/7. I not have any leaks to worry about 
rickairmedic
Well-known member
I leave mine on 24/7 but I do close the ball valve at the compressor before leaving the shop for the night .
Rick
Rick
december45
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2009
- Messages
- 1,580
usually not, its easy to open the valve if I'm going to be using it
Modern Jess
Well-known member
(First post, jumping in)
I leave mine on 24/7. It's a 60 gallon IR unit. I also worked hard at getting it completely leak-free, to the point that it doesn't lose pressure even over long periods of time.
I leave mine on 24/7. It's a 60 gallon IR unit. I also worked hard at getting it completely leak-free, to the point that it doesn't lose pressure even over long periods of time.
rsanter
Well-known member
if you use it all day long every day then leaving it on might be Ok but I prefer not to
I generally only use mine on the weekends so I turn it on when I need it
bob
I generally only use mine on the weekends so I turn it on when I need it
bob
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Same here. If I go out of town, it gets switched off, along with other critical items that get turned off or unplugged. Otherwise, I close the tank valve when its not in use, and thats it.
Charles
24/7 for years and years. If there is a leakdown, I fix the leak. I turn it off a few times a year (irregular schedule) to drain it, and change the oil once a year. This is a little 2HP/30 gal Craftsman (US made!) that I bought in 1970.
blazsawgras
Well-known member
nope i flip the breaker off that goes to the compressor.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
24/7/365
i have my small compressor plugged into a switched outlet in the garage attic. the switch is next to a 1/2" pipe that comes down to the filter and stuff. its easy enough i try to kill it whenever im not using it and shut the valve since the HF filter and china black iron fittings connecting it all seem to leak. the last thing i want is a compressor running all night long maybe even for days.
buening
Well-known member
Mine is on 24/7 but typically have the ball valve closed at the compressor outlet. 7.5hp/80gal tank here.
kywildcat
Well-known member
Leave mine off, but full of air. Drain it just enough to get the water out after long day of use....or just once a week if not using it much.
Garage5.9
Well-known member
had my craftsmen 30 gallon come on at like 330am one time in the garage. woke me and my neighbor up hahaha never again
ratdoggy
Well-known member
That's what I do too.
Speedbird
Well-known member
Until I move my compressor to its permanent spot, I turn off the breaker and close the ball valve at the tank. I plan to put a switch and cutoff valve next to the entry door soon.
Rickochet
Well-known member
I have mine switched and keep the ball valve in the closed position when not in use, which allows the air to bleed from the separator and air hose.
Years back I worked in a new car dealership and the compressor was never shut off at any time. We came in one morning and an air hose had blown near the quick coupler. The air hose began a violent whipping action and soon was fully stretched out to its 35' length. If you can visualize an air hose smacking tool boxes, walls, ceiling floor, and cars repeatedly you get the drift of why I shut down my compressor. After seeing first hand damage on the building, tools boxes and 3 new Buicks, (Riviera, Electra and a Grand National Regal) it stuck in my mind to give it as little chance as possible to put the hurt on my possessions.
Years back I worked in a new car dealership and the compressor was never shut off at any time. We came in one morning and an air hose had blown near the quick coupler. The air hose began a violent whipping action and soon was fully stretched out to its 35' length. If you can visualize an air hose smacking tool boxes, walls, ceiling floor, and cars repeatedly you get the drift of why I shut down my compressor. After seeing first hand damage on the building, tools boxes and 3 new Buicks, (Riviera, Electra and a Grand National Regal) it stuck in my mind to give it as little chance as possible to put the hurt on my possessions.
metalbasher
Member
Same here! Use mine mostly on weekends. Forgot to turn it off one time and it locked up and throw the breaker. The bad thing was the freezer was running on the same breaker. I didn't find out it had happened till a week later. Freezer was loaded.
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
Mine is on only when I am using the shop, and then only right before I need it. It then stays on until I leave the shop for the day. A good way is to wire a compressor up so it will come on or off with the lights. Makes it semi-automatic, and you don't forget to turn it off.