Fix those air leaks.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
From: Rome, GA
Fix those air leaks.
I recently read an article in a manufactruing magazine. I dont recall the company but they went through and fixed all the leaks in the compressed air system. With all the air operated tools and production machines that had air operated rams, clamps and other devices involved in running the machines, and most of them had a leak of some type. They showed the figures of how much air they were loosing and how much money they would save over a years time of maintaining as close to a leak free environment as possible. The figures were amazing. They had figured that they would save several hundred thousand dollars just on air leaks from the electricity it took to run the compressors. This was a very large manufacturer with multiple plants. If they could save several hundred thousands over the coarse of a year it seems possible that the average home shop could save at least a little bit up to a couple of hundred dollars that is wasted on air leaks. I know I am bad about leaving a fitting leaking a little and not worrying about it. I just thought the concept was interesting and a simple fix.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
From: Rome, GA
I have been helping teach a machine shop coarse for the past year and we went through and fixed all the fixable leaks in the shop. I am not teaching there anymore so I dont know if they ever ordered the new hose reels to complete everything but what we fixed made a difference any the opperability of the system. I have no way of knowing if there were substantial money savings on energy.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
I leave my compressor ON all the time. I have no leaks so it never runs unless I use air. Even a very tiny leak would make it run occasionally. Liquid gas line leak detector works well. So will kids soap bubble mix. The gas line leak detector just comes with a handy swab but can be refilled with the cheap stuff! 
Variations of that article come out every few years in industrial magazines.
Variations of that article come out every few years in industrial magazines.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 3
From: Sapulpa OK
FYI Compressed air costs somewhere between 13 to 40 Cents per 1000 Cubic feet. Of coarse this depends on how much power costs where you live.
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The Pacifier
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,245
Likes: 7
From: Cloverdale, BC
I'm more annoyed with the noise a leak makes. I only run my home compressor when I need it. But at work, my two newest impacts (2 years old now) leak at the handle. But my 3 older impacts, 2 air rachets, air hammer, drill, and die grinders do not leak at all.
The shop also has a few air leaks that should be fixed. Throws us for a loop when we are looking for an air leak on a truck.
The shop also has a few air leaks that should be fixed. Throws us for a loop when we are looking for an air leak on a truck.
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