do you bleed your compressor
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do you bleed your compressor
I was wondering if you guys with compressors, bleed them everytime your done with them? or do you leave compressed air in them all the time? I would like to know why either way, or if there is harm in leaving air in it.
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your manual probably sugests you bleed it every 4 hours of use. i picked up a drain **** from grainger that automatically bleeds the compressor on every charge. just enough to remove settled condensation. protect your investment
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Omni - if I read your post correctly you are asking if we bleed all the air pressure off when we are done using the compressor. The others seem to be answering the question of "how often do you blow out the condensation?"
I always leave the air pressure in the tank. I blow down every time I use it, if I remember.
I always leave the air pressure in the tank. I blow down every time I use it, if I remember.
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Compressors are a big part of my workday. We always bleed the pressure and drain the tanks at the end of every day. If the compressor will not be used for a few days, we leave the drain valves open. In rare instances excessive moisture remaining in the tanks can cause a rust through. I have only seen one compressor rupture a tank in my 30 years of framing, both ends of the tank blew off and took out the door of a pickup parked nearby. Most impressive. My thinking is if the the water that comes out of the tanks is clear or slightly oily from blowby, you are good to go. If it is rust colored, time to check in with your friends at the tool store.
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From: Georgia
I feel that bleeding the air out would be benificial, it certianly won't hurt anything. I have never done it but I do blow the condensation out every few days or so. The compressor I grew up with in my father's shop was built in the fifties and was still running with a sound tank when I sold it in 1990 and I still have the one I replaced it with then and it is fine by only letting out the condensation. May just be luck or I'm getting enough blowby to keep rust down.
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From: Elyria, Ohio
I bleed/drain after use especially in an unheated garage in Ohio. I've had relief valve blow-off during operation due to ice in tank and lines around regulator. I also had my water/oil separator crack, due to ice in the bowl.
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From: Accokeek, MD
One thing to remeber...
If you don't have an inline drier, the condesation that accumilates won't only hurt the compressor, but it will reduce the life of your air tools. Most manufactures suggest to bled the condensation daily. A previous post mentioned an auot bleeder...well worth the money to protect the tank, the compressor motor and your air tools.
If you don't have an inline drier, the condesation that accumilates won't only hurt the compressor, but it will reduce the life of your air tools. Most manufactures suggest to bled the condensation daily. A previous post mentioned an auot bleeder...well worth the money to protect the tank, the compressor motor and your air tools.
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Originally Posted by midlf
Omni - if I read your post correctly you are asking if we bleed all the air pressure off when we are done using the compressor. The others seem to be answering the question of "how often do you blow out the condensation?"
I always leave the air pressure in the tank. I blow down every time I use it, if I remember.
I always leave the air pressure in the tank. I blow down every time I use it, if I remember.
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From: Accokeek, MD
You can bleed the moisture out without bleeding the entire tank. Turn the valve to bleed it, when the moisture stops, close the valve. The compressor will cycle on filling the tank back. Again, an auto bleed will do this for you, and they are not terribly expensive.
You really don't want oil in tank. When you use the compressor, it will go throug the lines and get all over your work. Just frequently drain the moisture, then close the valve. No need to drain out all of the air.
You really don't want oil in tank. When you use the compressor, it will go throug the lines and get all over your work. Just frequently drain the moisture, then close the valve. No need to drain out all of the air.
Last edited by bulrydr_1; Feb 10, 2005 at 08:46 PM.
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From: La Ronge Saskatchewan
The big compressor we have at work is on 24 7. Each week we drain any water that accumulated in the tank thru a drain in the bottom but the compressor is never shut off. We increase our drain frequency in the summer (more humid). The paint shop guy says if we turn the compressor off and drain it's pressure off each day it needs to run that much longer and we will have more moisture problems. He's been around a long time so we trust what he says.
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From: Accokeek, MD
Originally Posted by laynrubber
The big compressor we have at work is on 24 7. Each week we drain any water that accumulated in the tank thru a drain in the bottom but the compressor is never shut off. We increase our drain frequency in the summer (more humid). The paint shop guy says if we turn the compressor off and drain it's pressure off each day it needs to run that much longer and we will have more moisture problems. He's been around a long time so we trust what he says.
By the way, my military carrer feild involves all sorts of equipment to include air compressors....