Preventative Maintenance To Extend The Life Of Your Equipment

Your air compressor is your industrial workhorse. It’s quietly driving your tools and processes every day. Preventative maintenance to extend the life of your equipment is crucial to help you protect this important business investment.

A simple, routine maintenance checklist can mean the difference between smooth, uninterrupted performance and costly repairs or downtime. A proactive approach to preventative maintenance can keep your equipment up and running and minimize downtime. Below are some simple regular tasks that will help extend the life of your equipment, and some tasks that should be part of your regularly scheduled maintenance.

Tasks That Should Be Completed As Often As Needed (Depending On Usage)

These are tasks that should be completed on a regular basis between regular checkups.

• Drain moisture: Draining the excess moisture from air receiver tanks and system drains prevents water from accumulating in the receiver tank and piping, causing internal corrosion and rust.
• Inspect gauges: Addressing any irregular readings right away reduces stress on components, avoids overheating or overpressure damage, and prolongs equipment life.
• Monitor oil levels: Keeping oil at the proper level (for oil-lubricated compressors) ensures that all moving parts remain fully lubricated, minimizing friction and wear. Adequate oil also helps dissipate heat and trap contaminants, which prevents premature component failure.
• Clean or replace air intake filters: Keeping your air intake filters clean ensures unrestricted airflow, which prevents the compressor from working harder than necessary and overheating. By blocking dust and debris, clean filters also protect internal components from abrasive wear, extending the life of your equipment.
• Inspect belts and couplings: Inspecting belts and couplings for wear and ensuring they’re correctly tensioned prevents slippage and misalignment that can overwork the motor and bearings.
• Test safety relief valves: Regularly testing safety relief valves confirms they’ll open at the correct setpoint, preventing dangerous overpressure that can deform or rupture tanks and piping.
• Ensure proper ventilation: Proper ventilation prevents heat buildup around the compressor, allowing the motor and cooling system to dissipate heat effectively and avoid overheating.
• Check and tighten bolts and fasteners: Checking and tightening bolts and fasteners keeps components properly aligned and prevents parts from shifting under vibration. This reduces wear, prevents leaks or misalignment-induced damage, and ensures the compressor remains structurally sound over its lifespan.
• Train your team: Your employees should have a basic knowledge on proper compressor usage and basic care.
• Inspect hoses and connections: By maintaining a tight, secure air path, you reduce strain on the compressor and avoid damage caused by sudden loss of pressure, extending its operational life.
• Clean the coolers: Cleaning the air and oil coolers ensures efficient heat transfer, preventing the compressor from running at elevated temperatures that can degrade oil and stress internal components.

Tasks That Are Essential To Maintaining A Health Compressor

• Oil Changes: Regularly changing the oil and replacing the filter removes sludge, metal particles, and other contaminants that accelerate wear. Fresh oil maintains the correct viscosity for optimal lubrication.
• Inspect and clean internal components: Inspecting and cleaning valves, separators, and other internal parts removes buildup and contaminants that can cause blockages or uneven wear. This upkeep ensures smooth airflow and proper pressure regulation, reducing stress on components and prolonging compressor life.
• Service motor bearings: Servicing motor bearings and inspecting them for wear ensures they’re properly lubricated and aligned, preventing excessive friction and heat buildup. By catching bearing issues early, you reduce vibration and mechanical stress.
• Calibrate pressure sensors and gauges: Calibration of pressure sensors and gauges ensures you get accurate readings, so you can maintain the compressor within its designed operating limits.
• Inspect electrical connections: Inspecting electrical connections ensures all wires and terminals are tight, clean, and corrosion-free. This minimizes downtime and extends the compressor’s operational life.
• Keep the compressor room clean and dust-free: Dirt and dust clogs filters, coolers, and vents, which can cause overheating and reduce airflow. Keeping your compressor clean prevents abrasive particles from entering moving parts, minimizing wear and tear and prolonging equipment life.
• Use OEM parts: It’s important to use replacement parts that were manufactured and designed to keep your specific compressor model running strong.

Scheduling Preventative Maintenance For Your Air Compressor

It’s important to maintain a budget for preventative maintenance and keep regularly scheduled appointments to ensure the health of your air compressor. This will help you diagnose any issues quickly and extend your compressor’s life. The experienced technicians at Compressor Services can help you get the most out of your investment. Contact us today to start your maintenance routine!