Questions
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Answers
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Maintenance
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| How often should we change the oil? |
In a rotary screw compressor,
oil should be changed about every
7000-8000 hours. This depends on the type of compressor you purchase. For a Reciprocating
air compressor, generally you would change the oil approximately every 3 months. For
a more accurate time frame, call in with a model number to find the recommended schedule
for your compressor. |
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| When should I replace the air intake filter? |
If your compressor has an Air Intake Filter, it should be cleaned on
a weekly basis (assuming you are using the compressor about 3 days a week). When the
filter starts to develop debris that is becoming harder to clean out, or you notice
any tears or holes in the filter, the filter should be replaced. |
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| What is the difference between stop-start and constant run |
Simply put, a start-stop air compressor has a pressure switch that
turns the machine on and off. Most small electric and small gas air compressors are
start-stop.
A constant run compressor means the motor continuously runs and continuously
turns the pump. Many industrial shops who need consistent air on a daily basis will
purchase a constant run compressor |
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Voltage
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| What voltage do I run on? |
It depends on the size of Compressor. Most Homeowner sized small compressors
are built to run on a single 110V Outlet. As you get into larger models, many compressors
offer the choice between 110 to 460 voltage. |
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| Will my compressor run on a generator? |
The compressor should be able to run given the proper requirements,
however we recommend not using a compressor with a generator. Generators have fluctuations
in power, and because a compressor needs constant voltage to be able to run, it is
generally best not to use a generator if no power is available. |
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| What is the difference between stop-start and constant run? |
Simply put, a start-stop air compressor has a pressure switch that
turns the machine on and off. Most small electric and small gas air compressors are
start-stop.
A constant run compressor means the motor continuously runs and continuously
turns the pump. Many industrial shops who need consistent air on a daily basis will
purchase a constant run compressor |
Water
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| What happens when water stays in my compressor? |
Compressor tanks are made of steel, which means if water is left in
the tank, rust will start to accrue. Depending on the severity, contact your local
service center about the best way to eliminate the problem. One place to start would
be to look into purchasing an air dryer, to help eliminate the problem. |
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| What happens if there is water in my lines. |
Generally this is caused by two problems - either a failed condensate
trap or a failed or undersized air compressor dryer. To solve the first problem, you
will need to either clean the water trap or simply replace it. The second problem
is a bit trickier, as you would need to repair or replace your air dryer with something
larger (unfortunately, this can be a bit pricy). |
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| I often times forget to drain the water from my tank, is there something
that can do this manually for me? |
Yes! You can purchase a
drain valve. There are three main types of drain valves, including float actuated,
electronically actuated or timed sequence actuated |
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Hoses
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| What size of hose should be used? |
This will depend on the type of compressor that you have. The two most
common sizes are 1/4" and 3/8". Check your compressor manual, or give us a call to
help find the right size to use.
Generally, the larger the compressor means the
larger size of diameter you can use. Most homeowner compressor manufacturers would
recommend a 1/4" hose diameter. |
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| What is the maximum hose length I should use with my compressor? |
This will also depend on the size of compressor and CFM required. The
Maximum hose length is one of the most open ended questions related to air compressors.
For a small homeowner unit, it would be smart not to exceed 150'. For a shop or industrial
compressor, contact your local installation provider or give us a call to help figure
out your maximum length. |
Other
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| I got a new pressure switch and installed it over the weekend. When
I turned it on it worked well, and filled up the tanks, however once it turned off
air started to leak out of the back of the unloader valve. It doesn't matter what
the pressure is in the tanks, if the pressure switch is turned off, air always leaks
out of the back of the unloader valve and at a pretty good rate. Have you seen
this happen before and do you have any suggestions? |
It sounds like the one-way check-valve is bad, and actually that may
have caused your pressure switch to fail in the first place. This is fairly common.
The usual causes are;
- older machine
- lots of hours, worn-out check valve
- oil is passing from the pump and into the tank
- running without and/or with a dirty intake filter
- spring gets weak or breaks
The whole compressor relies on this little part and when it fails it can ruin everything
else. Much of the time one can take the check-valve off, take it apart and
clean it. There may be some debris in it, carbonized oil or both. Sometimes you will
find the spring inside is broken.
This part is between the (copper) tube from the pump and tank and is usually threaded
directly into the tank. We stock many of these and most are around $20.00-30.00.
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| How much air will I need to power my air compressor tool? |
Generally, most air tools
will take around 70-100 PSI, and will consume less than 10 CFM, however consult the
manual or manufacturer of your tool for exact air requirements. |
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| How often until a new compressor is "broken in" |
Air Compressors do not need to be broken in. Check for any leaks or
malfunctions during the first start-up, but after that you should be ready to go. |
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| How often should I service my compressor? |
This answer depends on how often you run your compressor. If you are
running your compressor occasionally, then annual service would be fine. If you are
running your compressor routinely, then quarterly service may be needed. |
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| What is a good tank size? |
The tank size you will use will depend on the amount of air that you
need stored. A benefit to a larger tanked air compressors is that the motor will not
start and stop as often as a smaller tanked compressor. However, if you do not believe
that you will use a good amount of air, it may be smarter and cheaper to use a smaller
tank |
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| What is the difference between a rotary screw compressor and a reciprocating
compressors |
A rotary screw compressor is one that utilizes two intermeshing helical
rotors to trap a volume of air, then compress it to a higher pressure. Rotary screw
compressors can be run at lower temperatures for 24 hours per day, 365 days a year.
A piston compressor (aka reciprocating) uses pistons driven by a crankshaft to deliver
air at high pressure
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| Will my small homeowner air compressor be able to handle an extra tank? |
Yes and no. The answer to this question depends on whether or not you
have a continuous duty air compressor or not. A continuous duty compressor means that
it is able to run for long periods of time (aka continuously). This type of compressor
will not have any problems running a larger spare tank. If it is not continuous
duty then it might have a tougher time. Depending on the size of your machine and
the receiver tank, it should be able to handle it. Just be sure that you give it time
to cool off when filling the tank, otherwise you would be going overboard.
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| My compressor stores air at high pressure, yet my tools will require
a low pressure application; what do I do? |
This is actually quite an easy fix - you need to add a
pressure regulator to your line, which
can be set for the desired pressure when the air reaches your tool.
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