Leave air compressor tank under pressure?

[koenbro]

Hello, I just got today my first air compressor, a California Air Tools 10020, that is quiet and small, and am quite excited to build my airtools collection. Have used a bit this evening and, once done, I have removed the tool from the universal adapter.

I am not sure if I can leave the tank under pressure, or should I depressurize it completely after each use?

 

[Rkbuell]

I leave my 80 gal pressurized, but mainly to save electrity pumping up every day. I do however drain water regularly. With a smaller compressor it depends on you and planned use age, if using again tomorrow leave pressure if not using for a week or longer bleed it down, is what I think. Others will join in.

 

[f575gtc]

I leave my 60 gal pressurized, I too drain it not daily but twice every week, I don't use it as much now in the winter.

It will empty itself after 1-2weeks time so there is a small leak through the connections.

 

[fourjeepin]

I leave mine pressurized.

 

[The Cobbler]

pressurized

 

[koenbro]

Thanks guys. The compressor has two standard outlets. Can I leave the tool and tubing attached, or will that wear them off? Frankly, I'd much rather leave them connected if that's reasonable. Thanks for your advice.

 

[The Cobbler]

the more you leave connected, the more chance of something leaking or blowing. I would not leave the air tool hooked up to the pressurized air line. I would also shut off the compressor when not in use

 

[Red Box]

Power off, tools disconnected, leave tank pressurized. Easy. Drain tank weekly. By the way, you don't have to drain all the air, just crack the valve so the water drains then close. Air is always available.

 

[MrGiggles]

Crimped hose connections and quick connects commonly leak, and the compressor will leak internally to some degree as well.

Install a valve at the compressor outlet, when you're finished working get into the habit of switching off the compressor and valve at the same time.

 

[Ilikeike]

My tanks are always pressurized,longest is 12yrs. On my home tank I always close the ball valve at the outlet so my lines are not under pressure.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

The most important thing is to kill power so if something blows out it won't run to the point of burning up (fire?). As above, be sure to regularly drain the water in the tank.

 

[TNToy]

Run the compressor from empty all the way up to a full 60-80 gallons of compressed air.

Feel how hot the tank is.

When that sucker cools off, a large amount of moisture falls out of it because hot air can retain a higher amount of vaporized water than cold air. (This is why we get water running out of the dain under our cars with the A/C running and why cold coke cans sweat when placed outside on a hot day).

Leaving it full allows the tank and your lines to sit and cool, and the condensation to fall to the bottom of the tank where you can drain it... instead of it being blown through your brand new airtools.

A full compressor means dryer air.

Obviously this only applies to intermittent use - to inflate tires or zip off a few lugnuts. Running a sandblast cabinet or a D/A sander, you'll be running it enough that cooling, separators and filtration matter.

But for recreational light use, an always-full tank is best.

 

[sberry]

Mine has basically been on since 1970.

 

[Davefr]

The most important thing is to kill power so if something blows out it won't run to the point of burning up (fire?). As above, be sure to regularly drain the water in the tank.

^^Yes, having it pressurized is OK but disconnect the power. All it takes is a broken valve/fitting and it'll run until it self destructs and you'll come back to a burned out cinder that was once a shop.

 

[Yourfired]

Leave it pressurized.

 

[platform389]

Yep, leave the pressure. What could possibly go wrong?

Actually, these reservoirs were defective and GE had a recall as a result. But this shows what a failure will look like.

 

[Theruse]

I shouldn't but I do leave my compressor pressurized. Not a good thing in the humid weather months. When I do get around to draining the system, there is always a brown gunky mess. Al least I turn it off when not in use. It's a two tank system and the two petcocks are in awkward positions. As a result, not drained often enough.

 

[aroslv]

Hello, I just got today my first air compressor, a California Air Tools 10020, that is quiet and small, and am quite excited to build my airtools collection. Have used a bit this evening and, once done, I have removed the tool from the universal adapter.

I am not sure if I can leave the tank under pressure, or should I depressurize it completely after each use?

I actually just bought the same one, and was wondering the same thing. This thread was helpful.

 

[nh_yota]

I leave mine pressurized but I unplug it and drain the water from the tank. Mine leaks enough from the fittings and check valve that it's empty by the time I use it again a few weeks later. It's only a 12 gallon tank though.

 

[CNGsaves]

OP . . . . you've got a nice little compressor . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . California Air 2 HP 10 gallon

http://www.californiaairtools.com/u...compressors/2-0-hp-air-compressors/cat-10020/

I would say drain water EVERY day.

IF you have definite plans to use compressor next day, then would be fine to leave pressurized (after draining water), but UNPLUG power.

However, if not going to use next day, then drain tank completely and unplug. That little compressor has no problem refilling the 10 gal tank and not worth risk of rust damage by leaving pressurized for extended periods just in case you forget to drain water. Thus, would be better habit to drain it completely every day and unplug, even it if might end up using it the next day.

 

[Radical540]

Mine has basically been on since 1970.

Wow! and I thought mine "on" since 1988 was a longer time! LOL

 

[tomshep]

Fascinating responses. Unless you work in a pro shop where the unit is used every day, I don't understand why anyone would leave their unit powered up and pressurized. I use mine on most weekends but I throw the breaker when I leave and the unit will bleed down over a couple of days. Nothing to worry about it somehow running when I am away. When I need it power it up and I have a full tank in 10 minutes.

Tom

 

[goodysgotacuda]

My 60gal might drop 10psi a week if I leave it shut off fully pressurized.

I throw the switch and ball valve at the tank outlet. It seems like a waste of energy and wear to drain it every time. It's also nice to be able to crack the valve and have some air on tap for something quick...and not wait for the compressor to recover just to drain it again.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I turn my compressor off and leave it pressurized. I don't use it often, and it's mostly to add air to tires, couple quick shots with a blowgun, or to remove a few lugnuts. I can go months without using it and it might lose 10-20psi over that period of time. It's always ready.

 

[koenbro]

I adapted a valve as recommended above and leave the tank pressurized, the valve locked and the tool and tubing removed.

 

[redmondjp]

I leave my 60 gallon pressurized. I shut off the ball valve right at the tank, otherwise the slip fitting on my hose reel lets it bleed down over a few days.

 

[Mikerodrig27]

In your case, I'd just drain the whole tank. It's only a ten gallon tank anyways. If I had a 80 gallon tank and it used it on a weekly basis, I'd drain the water after use and after the tank has reached ambient temperature. clearing the lines because of the water is a little over the top. If you oil your tools frequent enough it shouldn't have an effect at all.

 

[Jeeper]

I have a 60 gallon and I leave it aired up but try to remove the water AND I switch the motor off. I drop a few PSI ever week but have air when I need it...also dry air because the water has condensed out of it and drained.

 

[aczr2k]

Rotary screw compressor here at the shop, with another Cast Aire piston compressor backup, the disconnect is turned off every night, the building air is not dumped ever unless we are working in the system. You'll find out the hard way when something blows in the shop and the air compressor runs all weekend. Not so worry some with the rotary screw compressor but with a piston pump you'll come when the fire dept calls you. At the farm the compressors are used daily, we just throw the breaker off at night.

 

[Threadkiller]

Reviving an old thread. I have a 60 Gallon Campbell Hausfeld that is in my garage under my living room. Am I wrong to be paranoid about leaving it pressurized? Its great to have air on demand any time you want, but Ive seen what those things do when they let go. Its a new compressor as of 4 years ago and I drain the water regularly. Any input from someone with a similar setup to me?

 

[bcradio]

Reviving an old thread. I have a 60 Gallon Campbell Hausfeld that is in my garage under my living room. Am I wrong to be paranoid about leaving it pressurized? Its great to have air on demand any time you want, but Ive seen what those things do when they let go. Its a new compressor as of 4 years ago and I drain the water regularly. Any input from someone with a similar setup to me?

It's fine to leave your tank pressurized on your compressor. The two things you want to watch are draining the water regularly from the tank and making sure that the pump is turned off so it doesn't come on and run continuously if you spring a link while you're away from the house.

 

[wcp0611]

Ditto as most say. Leave pressure there but turn off compressor at the breaker or switch when done for the day so a leak doesn't keep it churning all night. As for water, I took out the drain valve at the bottom of my 80gal IR and put in a 1/4 npt pex fitting. Long story short, I pipe it up around the compressor to the inside of my shop where it meets a 1/2 ball gas valve then routes back out to the atmosphere. I usually hit that valve twice a week and the compressed air blows out any moisture.

 

[blake101]

Power off, tools disconnected, leave tank pressurized. Easy. Drain tank weekly. By the way, you don't have to drain all the air, just crack the valve so the water drains then close. Air is always available.

I agree with this.

 

[blake101]

Leave it pressurized.

 

[Threadkiller]

Sweet, thanks guys

 

[ovrrdrive]

Power off, ball valve at output closed, tank pressurized.

I use mine 5 days a week after work and don't need to waste hours a month waiting for it to build pressure.

Never leave the hoses pressurized, never leave the power on, profit.

 

[Mikerodrig27]

I turn mine off and hit the drain valve a few times after the tank has cooled of. If you have a pipe coming out of the drain, the water sits in the pipe which helps.

 

[ToolRoom]

You've already paid to squeeze the air, so it doesn't pay to vent the tank unless you need to.

I did the same as others have suggested, installed a ball valve on the output of the tanks to shut them off from the lines when not in use. Open the drain regularly to ensure there is no moisture.

Always isolate the power if you are not using them, and at the end of every day.