How To Filter Water From Air Compressor

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You want to know why and how to drain the compressor tank? This commodity will provide y'all with all the relevant information necessary to gain a greater understanding!

Why Drain Water From an Air Compressor Tank
Air Compressor Tank Drain Location
How Do Tank Drains Work?
How To Drain an Air Compressor
Tips for Draining an Air Compressor
FAQs (Oft Asked Questions)

Why Drain Water From an Air Compressor Tank

Every time you use your air compressor, information technology is inhaling complimentary air. That free air contains h2o vapor. Every bit the air pressure level in the tank increases, the amount of air crammed into each cubic foot of space within the tank increases likewise.

The end event is that the h2o vapor in the air compressed into the tank increases in relative humidity and so much that the h2o vapor chop-chop condenses into complimentary water in the bottom of the compressor tank.

If yous run your compressor long enough without draining the tank you will completely make full your air tank with water. Then you will be pumping water into your air lines instead of compressed air.

Air Compressor Tank Drain Location

Every compressed air tank will have a drain valve, since every compressor tank will have to exist drained regularly. The bleed will typically be located in the lowest role of the tank when the compressor is sitting in its designed position. The odd compressor tank may take a drain on the side of the tank.

Inside the tank, that drain valve will exist connected to a line that extends to the lowest section of the air tank. Air pressure level in the tank volition bulldoze water out that line fifty-fifty though the drain valve is not at the lesser. No compressed air in that tank? Then it will not drain. Run the compressor until you come across pressure rising on the tank judge, then open that drain valve to void h2o.

I don't much like the side-bleed style as when crud builds upward in the lesser of the tank, information technology can cake the bleed line, and prevent expulsion of h2o. But another maintenance thing to be concerned most. At to the lowest degree the side drain valves are easily accessible to remove and clear the clogged line (once the tank is empty of air of course).

In the typical compressor drain, and since gravity works, the water that condenses all over the wall within your air tank will then flow to the lowest spot in the tank, so that is where the bleed is located.

How Do Tank Drains Work?

First of all, what does the typical tank drain look like? All of the manual air tank drains that I accept seen take a mutual appearance. Y'all can see one in the photograph below.

How To Drain The Compressor Tank Drain Valve

I suppose your auto drain might look a footling different from the one in the photo, simply do not let that worry you. They all work in the same mode if they are a manual tank drain.

You see the knurled ring at the bottom of the drain valve in the photo? That ring is has bumps on it (knurled) to provide a gripping surface for your fingers.

You lot plough that ring in a counter-clockwise direction (at least on mine, yours may plough the other way) to open up the drain, and turn information technology the reverse way to close it.

When you drain your compressor tank, open your drain valve all the way. If you simply open the drain a little you will hear air beginning to escape, then it might terminate, or burble. You may think the tank is drained.

What has actually happened is that the h2o or droppings in the bottom of the tank has blocked the drain so, the tank is not empty of water at this point. Therefore yous must open up the tank drain all the mode and exist sure to void the entire tank of water.

How To Drain an Air Compressor

Ever refer to your air compressor's manual first, equally the following is just a full general guide.

How do you lot drain an air tank?

Turn off compressor
Plow off the compressor and remove any tools connected
Reduce the pressure
Open the safety/unloader valve to reduce the pressure to anything beneath 10 psi (preferably 0) earlier attempting to drain the air tank
Place reservoir under bleed
Identify a reservoir or collection bucket under the valve that will collect the h2o
Open the drain valve
Open up the drain valve past unscrewing the band at the bottom of it
Tilt the air compressor
Whilst the water is flowing out of the tank, tilt the compressor so that the drain valve is facing down (if necessary)
Close the valve
one time the liquid has stopped flowing out, you can shut the valve – chore done!

Get gear up for a surprise! The stuff that flows out of your tank will be water… yep, and information technology will also contain residuum of compressor oil, peradventure a smidgen of tank rust, all spiced with whatever dust migrated into the tank through the intake filter. The water draining from your tank may be thicker than expected and brownish in color.

Tip: You do not want to drain the compressor tank onto something you exercise not want stained, mayhap your garage flooring? One time the h2o from the tank has evaporated, it volition leave a stain. So please be enlightened.

Tips for Draining an Air Compressor

A few useful tips when draining an air compressor are:

wearing gloves
drain the compressor after every use
leave tank drain open until next use

Wearing Gloves

I wearable a pair of work gloves when I open the drain valve on my compressor tank.

I practise not demand or want that gunk all over my manus, which will happen if y'all exercise not vesture a glove with the hand that is opening the tank drain.

Drain the Compressor After Every Use

As a general rule, drain the compressor tank after every apply. As soon as yous shrink air you volition have water build up in the tank. If you do not drain that h2o information technology starts filling the tank, and at the aforementioned time, could start rusting the tank from the inside, depending on the tank inner coating that is applied to the interior of the tank at the manufactory.

These days, the compressor tank factory is probably in a different country, the metallic used in tank structure might be recycled popular cans, and the quality of the coating inside a compressor that retails for $100 is pretty suspect.

Tip: Drain your tank subsequently every utilise to slow downward the eventual rust that is likely with every low toll compressor air tank.

Leave Tank Drain Open up Until Next Use

I by and large leave my tank drain open up until I go to utilise the air compressor once more. Some folks may not.

It just seems logical to me to permit exterior air access (yes, I know information technology's express, merely there is some air motility) to the tank to aid dry it out.

Only, exercise not forget to close the drain when you next become to utilise your compressor. These DIY type air compressors are very loud, and you may not hear the air you are compressing busily exiting the tank as it is being compressed, right through the all the same-open tank bleed.

Note: If your compressor volition not build air force per unit area, that is 1 of the first things to bank check.

FAQs (Oft Asked Questions)

Do I need to drain my air compressor?

Aye, this will actively prevent the effects of corrosion and certainly prolong the life-span of your air compressor.

How often should you drain water from air compressor?

You should drain the water from your air compressor later every use (or daily). Water build up will cause your tank to rust and eventually the demand to invest in a new one.

If you have any questions nearly how to drain the h2o from your tank so please leave a comment below with a photo if applicable so that someone tin can help y'all!