Leaving air in a compressor

[79firebird]

i leave mine full at both my shop my work and my buddys place just drain the water out every day if the compressor is used. Helps keep from haveing to air it up to blow something off or air up a tire

 

[Mike14k]

I pull the water drain chain on the tank just about once a week or so. I turn the compressor on usually on Friday nights and off again on Sundays. Over the week, I usually lose 10lbs of so of pressure in my 25 gallon tank.

Since I travel some, I worry about leaving it on and having something fail and it run all week. Plus it's in a closet with my dust collector that has 4 layers of sheetrock for sound deadening so it's hard to hear.

To be safe, I added a 25W red light outside the closet that comes on when the compressor circuit is switched on. I can see the glow from the house to remind me.

 

[Stretch660]

I leave mine pressurized, just not on. Reason being is that mine is located right inside my garage door. 2 winters ago the wife opened the garage door and the cold air compressed the air in the tank and kicked the compressor on. Only it didn't fully come on and burned up the motor. I didn't realize what had happened till the wife kept coming in from work and telling me that something that I had been doing in the garage really stinks. And it wasn't what your thinking. Cost me $225 for the new motor, so hence it's full, just now powered up.

Chris

 

[brianpgriset]

The only mechanical integrity concern one could ever have due to cycling of a pressure vessel is a fatigue cracking due to vessel "peaking" or out-of roundness. The peaking will cycle the shell wall back and forth until a fatigue crack will eventually form.

In the plant where I work we have some vessels that cycle from ~atmospheric pressure to 450psig every few minutes 365 days a year! We did a peaking analysis on the vessels to ensure there we no potential issues. considering the pressures and number of cycles for a typical air tank I don't think anyone has anything to worry about.

 

[ZRX61]

YIKES - Youonly drain the condensate every 2 months?? I leave my tank aired up, but drain the water out EVERY DAY it's used!! That's the law of compressors.

Depends where you live, here in the Mojave desert I can use it every day for a month in the summer & then I'll drain maybe 2 tablespoons of water..

 

[Jimdril]

My 30year old twin tank Emglo started leaking air b adly a couple months ago. I was not very good at draining off the moisture and it let me know about it. I tried patching er up with JB weld which held for a short period. When it finally blew out the patch I replumbed everything to the one tank that wasn't leaking. So far, so good. Let the moisture out of yours!

 

[fluid power]

Leave it full and drain the water when used frequently. One can buy an auto drain that will mount to the tank drain if you don't want to remember to do so. Some of the drains are timed and others have a float switch to drain the water when sensed. Compressing air creates the water in the tank. Your mileage may very depending on your regions climate. Ohio in the summer time, under heavy use, my compressor will make a lot of water!

 

[e-tek]

Depends where you live, here in the Mojave desert I can use it every day for a month in the summer & then I'll drain maybe 2 tablespoons of water..

Guess that's why there's so many rust-free cars coming out of the desert-states!

 

[uhohjim]

I leave My compressor pressurized 24/7........Leaks down a little at night but it's ready to go the next day when I turn the power back on.......I also have an auto drain on it that drains the moisture every 1 1/2 hrs when it's being used.....Nice gadget to have !! Jim

 

[sberry]

Mine get used daily, occasionally at night, stay charged 24/7

 

[bchee]

The only mechanical integrity concern one could ever have due to cycling of a pressure vessel is a fatigue cracking due to vessel "peaking" or out-of roundness. The peaking will cycle the shell wall back and forth until a fatigue crack will eventually form.

In the plant where I work we have some vessels that cycle from ~atmospheric pressure to 450psig every few minutes 365 days a year! We did a peaking analysis on the vessels to ensure there we no potential issues. considering the pressures and number of cycles for a typical air tank I don't think anyone has anything to worry about.

so do you mean it's ok to completely decompress it after each use?

Or do you mean leave the air in it?

 

[drmoonshine]

I drian mine all the way and the end of the day just to be safe.

 

[Davefr]

I always leave mine full of air. It's actually not good to bring it to zero.

Every cycle from 0 to 150 PSI causes the tank to expand and contract to the maximum. This can result in metal fatique. Additionally the constant replenishment of air draws in max. moisture.

I do however keep the disconnect off whenever I'm not in the shop. If a compressor blows a valve or head gasket while unattended it will run continuously and could be a fire hazard.

 

[GreyOwl]

I drian mine all the way and the end of the day just to be safe.

To me this is just a waste of air and also the energy to refill again when you use it next. Just a valve on the air line and flip off the switch is more than sufficient. A 30 second blast out the drain weekly is enough to get the moisture out of mine. I have a valve and fitting that goes through the wall to outside with a rubber hose pointed down for a drain line.
Charles

 

[brianpgriset]

so do you mean it's ok to completely decompress it after each use?

Or do you mean leave the air in it?

Take your pick, neither will affect the air tanks' mechanical integrity.. Personally, I'd save the energy costs and leave it full, but the key is to remove water from the tank to retard corrosion!