Don't Wait Until It's Too Late, Winterize Your Air Compressor
With cold temperatures getting closer & closer, we want to ensure that you can avoid any problems with your air compressor. Here are 5 quick tips to avoid the air compressor freeze.
Check your tank for condensation. As you run your compressor, your tank will eventually collect water at the bottom. As the temperature drops, you may run the risk of having that water freeze, which will increase your chances of a tank failure.
How Do I Avoid A Tank Failure?
- When applicable, install an appropriate dryer in your compressed air system to remove moisture. The dryer will take out the moisture running through your pipes & air compressor, avoiding rust & corrosion throughout your system.
- Installing a drain valve will automatically drain the condensate that collects in your compressed air tank.
Protect your outdoor piping. If your air piping is exposed to temperatures below the dew point of the compressed air in the pipe, you will condense water. Condensate in the pipe will cause a variety of issues and if it is exposed to below freezing temps, the condensate will freeze and possibly fail the pipe. Wrapping the pipe with insulation and heat tracing to keep the compressed air warm and installing drip legs with drain valves will keep condensate formation to a minimum. Need to upgrade your piping?
Store indoors, if possible. Indoor storage in a climate controlled environment is ideal, however, if this is not possible, modifications to the compressor may be required. Items such as sump or crankcase heaters, starter panel space heaters, and heat trace with insulation on control piping, drain valves, and moisture separators are good insurance to minimize the negative effects of cold temperatures.
Inspect your air compressor. Taking time to inspect your air compressor system for signs of potential issues before they become big problems. Check the oil to ensure there are no signs of condensate in the oil which will appear light brown or “milky” in color. This indicates the oil is not operating at the right temperature and will cause rust formation on the rotating components internally.
Implement a diagnostic program. Monitoring the health of your compressed air system with diagnostic tools such as oil analysis will give you early indications of issues that could be related to the effects of cold temperatures. Water content and viscosity index can be negatively impacted by cold temperatures and staying on top of these parameters can keep you ahead of the game when winter is knocking on the door!
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