A lot of your hard earned money has gone into getting an air compressor, and now if it isn’t put in the right fashion then it could mean a lot of trouble. With the temperatures soaring and your commercial construction projects taking longer than usual to finish, it is of prime importance that you follow some of the best tips to give you the best experience, ever.
With that being said, here are 3 tips to save money on your air compressor:
3 Fix Existing Leaks
A quarter-inch air leak at 100 psi will cost you more than $2,500 a year. Pipe systems older than five years can have leaks of up to 25 percent. Because it takes energy to generate compressed air, any air that leaks is money wasted. Approximately 80 percent of air leaks are not audible, so to minimize these problems, third-party help in detecting these leaks may be a necessity.
Leaks can originate from lines, gaskets, fittings, valves, clamps and connections. As stated earlier that old pipers could leak 25 percent of your compressed air, so it is important that you check the entire system regularly. In such a scenario, Ultrasonic leak detectors can be helpful.
2 Optimize Pipe Infrastructure
A piping system design should optimize transfer of compressed air at the desired flow and pressure to the point of use. Increasing the size of a pipe from two to three inches can reduce pressure drop up to 50 percent. Shortening the distance air has to travel can further reduce pressure drops by about 20-40 percent.
The more flow through a pipe the greater the pressure drop will be. Pressure drop in a pipe increases with the square of the increase in flow, which means if the flow is doubled, the pressure drop will increase four times. Air distribution piping should be large enough in diameter to minimize pressure drop.
1 Read the Manual
Read, understand and follow the air compressor manual. Keep the manual in an easily retrievable place. Compressors are generally reliable equipment that typically doesn’t need daily maintenance. But when you have a problem, these manuals are very helpful. It gives you the Do’s and Don’ts and simple tips for the safe and effective operation of your compressor. The tips and tricks often lead to more savings too, so don’t think that it is there only for modification or when an issue occurs. It is also there when you require some pro tips to make your compressor more efficient, which means more savings.
Don’t worry if you manual is missing. Most manufacturers have the maintenance manual available online which you can download or you can call their customer service to have one sent to you if it is an obsolete model.