| 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. |
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|
Types of Compressors
/ Evaluating a Compressed Air System / Selecting
an Air Compressor / Troubleshooting /
Glossary and Reference Data
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Resources, Inc
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