If you manage a business or industrial plant, you know the importance of keeping your equipment up and running. If your compressed air systems fail, you can’t run your equipment. And if you don’t have a backup, your production screeches to a halt, so you can’t make the products your customers depend on.

Fortunately, the right monitoring and maintenance routines enable you to reduce downtime, maintain your operations’ peak performance and keep your revenues flowing.

In This Article

Top 8 Air Compressor Tips for Minimizing Downtime

Below are eight of our best tips for minimizing your compressed air system’s downtime:

1. Routinely Inspect Your Compressor

Once a week, inspect your air compressor briefly. A visual inspection will give you a valuable picture of your compressor’s condition and requirements, and five minutes or so should give you the information you need.

Check for issues like oil leaks as you inspect your air compressor. An oil leak in your compressor drains the lubrication that enables your compressor to run smoothly, and it can also cause problems like hose ruptures. If a hose ruptures, your air compressor will likely fail, leaving you with downtime and backlogs while you get the issue resolved.

As you inspect your compressor, you should also make sure the filters are clean. Dirty, clogged filters quickly spell trouble for an air compressor. They prevent air from flowing, and blocked airflow raises an air compressor’s operating temperature to dangerous levels. If you notice moderately dirty filters, you can try blowing the debris out of them. You may need to replace more heavily clogged filters.

2. Pressure Wash Your Cooler

Especially in dirtier work environments, pressure washing your cooler is essential. Cleaning your cooler proactively enables you to prevent downtime.

Pressure washing your cooler is crucial right before the hot summer months roll around. Your air compressor requires plenty of fresh, clean air to dissipate its internal heat. A dirty system will not admit insufficient air, so it can quickly cause overheating, especially in hot ambient temperatures. A good pressure washing leaves your air compressor clean so it can regulate your machine’s temperature and keep it functioning optimally.

3. Pay Attention to Any New Sounds

A change in the noise your air compressor makes may signify an underlying problem. Fortunately, since you listen to your air compressor run every day, you likely have a keen ear for what it sounds like and should be able to tell pretty quickly if something is off. If the compressor is making a suspicious whine or seems to be working harder than it should, you’ll want to get the issue checked out right away.

It’s vital to catch small issues early before they develop into larger concerns, so make listening to your air compressor a regular part of your maintenance routine.

4. Make Sure Your Compressor Room Is Properly Ventilated

Adequate ventilation is critical because poor ventilation can alter the air compressor’s operating temperature. If the compressor receives too little air and gets too hot, it could fail and cause extended downtime. Inadequate ventilation also makes your compressor work harder and reduces the oil life.

Providing adequate ventilation in your work area often means using fans and louvers to maintain positive pressure in the compressor room. You’ll also want to keep other large equipment away from your compressor, particularly if that equipment gives off excessive heat.

5. Check Drains on Your Tank, Dryer and Filter

You should check your air compressor’s tank, dryer and filter drains regularly to ensure the compressor functions at its highest capacity. Checking these drains is critical during the hot and humid summer weather, when more moisture than usual accumulates in your air compressor. Clean and functional drains will help keep water out of your compressed air and ensure your compressor continues to run smoothly.

6. Change Your Air Compressor Fluid

Just as in a car, the oil in an air compressor becomes dirty after a while. Creating a regular oil change schedule helps you keep your compressor running smoothly. Fresh fluid will help maintain viscosity, increase lubrication effectiveness and remove moisture and other contaminants from your compressor so you can avoid downtime.

7. Check Belts and Couplings

Your air compressor’s belts and couplings don’t always receive the attention they should. Checking them tends to fall by the wayside, and when it does, issues can spring up rapidly. Belts and couplings often degrade, especially in the heat. Once they wear down, they can reduce air compressor efficiency or impede its function altogether. Taking a regular look at the belts and couplings can keep your compressor in good shape.

8. Schedule Preventative Maintenance

Preventative maintenance is key for avoiding air compressor downtime. To get the most from your air compressor and prevent productivity losses, be sure to schedule preventative maintenance with a reliable air compressor company like Fluid Aire Dynamics. Routine preventative maintenance enables you to catch and address small problems before they balloon into major issues that could lead to catastrophic failure and extended downtime.

The True Cost of Avoidable Downtime

All avoidable downtime comes at a price. The costs of air compressor downtime vary greatly, depending on the type of issue, the application involved and the level of service necessary to get your compressor back up and running.

Repairs are sometimes costly, but they often represent only a small fraction of your downtime losses. The total costs of downtime, including the profits you lose from the products and services you can’t provide, can often run up to tens of thousands of dollars per hour. The average downtime incident costs a company $17,000. These steep costs are the reason you should invest in preventative maintenance to keep your air compressor functional and profitable.

Contact Fluid Aire Dynamics to Reduce Your Air Compressor Downtime

When you need dependable preventative maintenance to keep your air compressor up and running, let Fluid Aire Dynamics be your trusted source.

Our years of industry experience mean we can diagnose even the trickiest problems and figure out the right solutions. Our affordable rates mean you’ll be able to keep your air compressor in good condition at a price that works for your budget. And if you have questions about your maintenance schedule or want to discuss a troubling noise or leak, our friendly, knowledgeable professionals are here to help.

Though we are based in Pennsylvania, our service experts also provide preventative maintenance and emergency service in the Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Northern Virginia areas.

Contact us today to schedule maintenance for your air compressor or learn more about our services.