| To most people who select an air
compressor, the most important factors are overall cost,
efficiency, ease of maintenance, and troubleshooting. |
| Who Can Fix It? |
| If an air compressor system can be
serviced by in-house personnel, overall operating costs will be
less and downtime will be reduced. The more complex the
compressor and compressor controls, the more difficult repairs
will be. Selecting the simplest system will save you money. |
| Easy to Maintain? |
| Proper maintenance adds to the
reliability and efficiency of the air compressor. A compressor
that is difficult to maintain causes problems and costs money.
Some air compressors and air compressor components are specially
designed for easy maintenance. |
| Noise and Other Site Requirements? |
| Air compressors with low-sound
enclosures and vibration isolators can save thousands of dollars
in site preparation costs. You may be able to eliminate the
expense of a separate compressor room or special foundation. |
| What's the Warranty? |
| A warranty is the manufacturer's
pledge to the customer. Make sure you have a comprehensive
warranty on your equipment that is backed by solid manufacturer
and distributor support. |
| Maintenance
Checklist |
| Compressor prefilters:
Check and clean or replace; service frequency relates to
conditions in operating environment. |
| Compressor oil level:
Should be at "full" mark; change per
manufacturer's recommendation; DO NOT OVERFILL. |
| Inlet filter cartridges:
Remove and clean or replace. |
| Drain traps:
Periodically check for proper operation. |
| Check for leaks throughout:
Piping and flexible joint packings, control lines,
control line fittings, clamps and connectors, valves,
air pressure safety relief valves, and pressure gauge
connections. |
| Compressor cleanliness:
Maintain in a clean condition; a compressor should never
leak oil. |
| Coolers: Check
water quality, flow, and temperature in water-cooled
units; check inlet filters and cooler in air-cooled
models. |
| Belt condition:
Check for wear or damage and re-tension as required. |
| Compressor temperature:
Should be within manufacturer's limits. |
| Record service and load
hours: Systems that record both service and
load hours are easier to maintain and troubleshoot. |
|
| Types
of Compressors / Evaluating
a Compressed Air System / Selecting
an Air Compressor / Troubleshooting
/ Glossary and
Reference Data |
