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Draining the Compressor

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dougcoug

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Sep 12, 2006
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Southern California
I was reading the manual for my compressor today and it says that I should empty the tank daily.

How many of you out there are draining the tank each time? Is it really that necessary?
 
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Monte

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Depends on how often you use it. Maybe once a week or month will do it too. If you use your compressor daily for a couple of hours i would get one of these automatic drain valves to get all this rusty water out there.
 
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janarvae

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Aug 30, 2008
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South Florida
There was a pretty long thread on here about a compressor exploding from rust. It seemed the consensus was that you don't need to let all the air out of the release valve before opening the bottom drain valve. You can just use the pressurized air to release the water in the tank. It cannot hurt the compressor or tank to let out the water after each use. And it is not economical to release all the air each time you want to drain the water. :thumbup:
 
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dxdexter

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My tank is kept charged all the time. I try to empty my tank at least once every decade. I drain the water off when I remember.
 
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Chris Adams

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Oct 21, 2007
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Just noticed mine was spraying damp air last night, so I drained it. Got about a shot glass of water after a couple of weeks of hard use. Been very humid around here lately.
Normally I don't find water in it even after a month or two.
 
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Bolster

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Yeah, we did just have a long discussion about this...within the last month I think. Check teh archives.
 
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fatfillup

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Finksburg, Md
When they say empty the tank daily, do they mean drain off any water or purge of air completely. I would imagine that they are talking about water only and that would depend on usage and humidity. The more of both the more you drain the water.

I would think draining of air completely woud cause more water build up due to long run time to recharge the tank and the resulting heat build up would result in more moisture upon cool down.

The air drain cable mentioned above sounds like a great idea. We have our compressor mounted in a loft and we came off the bottom port with a 1/4 by 1/4 hose barb and ran a 1/4" poly braided hose (300psi) down one post and installed a 1/4 ball vavle. We drain into a trash can periodically and that seems to work pretty well. The nice thing about having 5' of hose hanging vertically is it makes a nice water trap so no so much water lies in the bottom of the compressor.
 
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bowlofturtle

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Chicago
i use my compressor once or twice a month. but since its winter i haven't touched it due to snow and stuff.

what would be recommended for me to do in terms of drainage? I drain mines after every usage and leave the bleeder open...
 
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g3engr

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Dec 23, 2009
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Lafayette, Colorado
dougcoug said:
I was reading the manual for my compressor today and it says that I should empty the tank daily.

How many of you out there are draining the tank each time? Is it really that necessary?
Click to expand...

I found the best solution to be the Wilkerson X 51 automatic drain valve sold through McMaster Carr Pn 4919K13 for $49.00 to be the bomb. Unlike the expensive and often unrelyable electronic units, the Wilkerson drain valve work via pressure drops when the compressor is in use and cycles when there is a pressure drop of 10 to 20 psi. Unlike the cheap Harbor Freight one which I tried two of and failed within a day though leakage this one works. I have seen this same valve sell for as high as $160.00 from some vendors, you go figure how anyone can ask for such a markeup. I must admit, however that, that it took three tries to get one that worked from McMaster Carr, as the first two had an internal part missing. I spoke with the applications engineering department from Wilkerson and they appologized for the issue and had be contact McMaster Carr (their distributor) for replacement. McMaster sent replacement the next day at no cost to me both times. The problem was obviously an issue with some on on the assembly line not paying attention to what they were doing. While you are at it, order a muffler PN 4440K124. The muffler also absorbs the moisture so no water on the floor. My first compressor failed due to pin holes from rust and as been replaced by an Eaton compressor at great expense, and I have no intention of having a failure due to my lack of dilegence in the area of moisture control again. One other note: Eaton states not to use their compressor in temperatures below 40 degrees F unless the space is heated. That means switch to synthetic oil after break in or before period. Both IR and Speedair state 100% duty with synthetic oil (non detergent compressor not automotive) only.
 
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Tom2

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Dec 19, 2008
Messages
2,209
Mine has a "bucket level" drain. Its about 20inches up on the side.

Just got it last week, but I've used it a good amount, and have got water in the lines.

Tried the side drain..but just air comes out..

How in the world can a drain work on the side? Anyone else have an air compressor with a bucket level drain?

Looks like there is a plug on the bottom too.. Probably not a bad idea to totally drain the compressor once a week. Not sure I will every day though.. Maybe every day in the humid summer.
 
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diogenes

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Dec 31, 2009
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The State of Taxation
On my compressor, which I use on an infrequent basis, I installed a ball valve on the drain so I could just turn the thing 90 degrees and have it bleed out the water. I hated having to get on my knees and reach under the tank and turn the petcock on my old compressor. Which is probably why it rusted out... :eek:

Now I just turn the ball valve open when I am done using the compressor and let it blow out the water as it drains the tank. If I was using it daily, I would go high tech as some of you have.
 
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mkdive

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Oct 11, 2008
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NPB (Socal)
diogenes said:
On my compressor, which I use on an infrequent basis, I installed a ball valve on the drain so I could just turn the thing 90 degrees and have it bleed out the water. I hated having to get on my knees and reach under the tank and turn the petcock on my old compressor. Which is probably why it rusted out... :eek:

Now I just turn the ball valve open when I am done using the compressor and let it blow out the water as it drains the tank. If I was using it daily, I would go high tech as some of you have.
Click to expand...

That's the way I did mine also, works great. I ran an elbow and a foot or so of 1/4" pipe out from under the tank, plumbed in a ball valve so its easy to get to. Heck I can even open and close the valve with my foot. I purge the tank about one a week or so. :thumbup:
 
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Jeeper

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Dec 25, 2006
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Location
Round Rock, TX
mkdive said:
That's the way I did mine also, works great. I ran an elbow and a foot or so of 1/4" pipe out from under the tank, plumbed in a ball valve so its easy to get to. Heck I can even open and close the valve with my foot. I purge the tank about one a week or so. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I do the same thing. Just drain it when i think about it. Also by having a length of copper pipe by the ball valve, gravity will hold the water in the copper until you drain...as long as you don't wait too long.
 
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