Do you leave your compressor on?

[LS6 Tommy]

I leave the tank charged, but turn the regulator down to 0 and turn the pressure switch "Off".

Tommy

 

[Davefr]

You can leave it pressurized but never leave it energized unless you want to put your shop at risk.

All it takes is a broken valve or gasket and the thing will run continuously until it burns up or the thermal overload shuts it off. Is it worth the risk??

 

[JAckal]

I turn off the ball valve and the power. The next day it runs for about 30 seconds and it is full.

My compressor is used everyday. A machine shop I worked in about 12 years ago, had a cleanup guy that was the last one to leave. He turned off the air but not the power.

We came in one morning and the transfer tube had blown out. The compressor ran without back-pressure until it locked up. Then burned up the motor. It got hot enough that the paint was completely off of the cylinders and heads. They were powdery white from the heat. The motor caught fire and burned a little of the side of the building.

Luckily the compressor was outside in a covered cage. It got hot enough to burn a wooden structure.

This was a large multi-cylinder compressor, 3 phase, with (2) 500 gallon tanks.

But, still it scared me at the thought of my smaller compressor setting my shop wall on fire.

I heard of another similar incident at a local body shop.

I'm too cautious,

Jack

 

[turbozombie]

I had some college friends that blew up a house onetime. They had an empty keg (no pressure on it) in the living room when the house caught on fire. The keg pressurized from the heat and exploded. Now I know a keg is aluminum and not steel, and also not rated for the same pressure, but it still scares me.

My personal view is this, if the compressor is isolated in its own enclosure or in a detached garage, leave it pressurized and just cut the power overnight. If it's it's your attached garage and gets used once every few weeks or less, just be safe and drain it down.

 

[OzarkMan]

I leave mine pressurized but the power switched off until I use it. It stays pressurized all year. On occasion, I bleed off the drain valve when I remember to do so.

 

[Trey T]

For over a decade, I always leave my compressor pressurized. In my earlier days, I would leave the motor control to ON and if there's leak, it would fire up at night. My current compressor setup has a 1" ball valve that I shut off when I leave the garage.

 

[sberry]

Mine are on 24/7 and could and are used any time day or night and have a fairly elaborate scheme. I do keep the breaker off to my backup I use so rarely its not worth leaving on, just simple. But for home brew setups I like the unit on and the valve off idea. That's quite secure and makes it easy to do something which is why you have air.

 

[mike13u]

On 24/7, with the entire plumbing system fully charged and an auto moisture drain that bleeds a small blast of air every 15 minutes from the tank drain.
....oh, the beautiful sounds...the beautiful sounds...

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The only time I ever empty a compressor tank is I have to change tank fittings, make repairs, or move it. Mine stay pressurized 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I paid for the power to fill the tank, why would I constantly waste it?

I turn the ball valve off at the tank so a hose doesn't blow and cause the compressor to run away, but it stays pressurized constantly. If it make you feel better to turn the power off also, then do so.

Basically the same for me. I've considered turning it off at the breaker, but only do so when I am gone out of town. Otherwise, its just close the ball valve (If I'm not running the shop heat, which requires compressed air). My little Craftsman portable from 1970 stays pressurized for months between uses, I don't bleed it off.

Charles

 

[Slackerzinc]

The only time I ever empty a compressor tank is I have to change tank fittings, make repairs, or move it. Mine stay pressurized 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I paid for the power to fill the tank, why would I constantly waste it?

I turn the ball valve off at the tank so a hose doesn't blow and cause the compressor to run away, but it stays pressurized constantly. If it make you feel better to turn the power off also, then do so.

This is what I do also, only takes a minute to turn ball valve and breaker on.

 

[unslow1]

I leave it pressurized and off. It usually slowly bleeds down.

 

[Riverside]

Mine usually stays on, but I wired a switch to my door so that I can easily turn it off as I leave if I know I won't need it for a few days. When I go out of town, I always try to remember to turn it off.

 

[1jow]

I use a 12 hr timer on my 1972 Sears 1hp compressor. It got my attention too many times after hours in the garage. I set it just above my estimated need. The timer controlled receptacle works for charging batteries also.

I like the Ball Valve cut-off that is being mentioned. My quick coupling just pass my filter and regulator was my thought as a stop since I transported initially. Plus, I used it daily to weekly initially vs monthly "maybe" now. I realize now that is a waste due to being plumbed to front from rear of garage (20') and to my rear car-port approx 30’ away. Adding a cut-off, even with a tee would make that joint a liability. Time Brings About A Change!

IMO a lot of your question are personal preface or use of the compressor. Such as:

1. “Can a compressor be left on to have air immediately available”? Yes, but I would say if it is used daily or often w/o any drains/leaks causing it to run useless.

2. Oil less IMO is usually light in weight like your pancake, good for Job–To-Job type work. Larger oil units stationary units are in shops/garages (and do not run as hard).

 

[coljar]

The air systems in both buildings are left pressurized all the time, but the electric is next to the exit door and is turned off when leaving for the night.

 

[Ashgrove]

I installed a relay on the control line between the pressure switch and the magnetic starter. The relay is energized by the shop light circuit so compressor can only run if someone is in shop.

 

[T-Mac]

I turn off the main valve turn off the main switch and always have 120 psi waiting for me when I turn it back on

 

[shortykorte]

I close ball valve and turn off switch that is only 6" away. Tank stays pressurized and I might work in shop for a week or two. Bleed moisture frequently (high humidity here)