The air compressor is an essential component of industrial equipment and applicable to a variety of tasks in commercial and industrial settings. The heat and humidity of summer can pose a serious threat to a large amount of equipment at your facility, and the air compressor is no exception.
In the event of a breakdown or extended period of downtime, a large amount of productivity will be lost at your site. This is why proper air compressor maintenance is so important, and why you can’t afford to miss scheduled maintenance visits from your professional service providers. Proper maintenance also extends the usable life of your product, saving you money on replacement in the long run.
What is included in a summer air compressor maintenance checklist? Why is it so important that your compressor delivers on demand? Here’s what you need to know when you’re responsible for maintaining this critical system and avoiding costly downtime.
Know Your System
If your building and system have engineers or technicians onsite, you can probably manage some maintenance concerns on your own, such as the day-to-day tasks. However, professionals responsible for managing equipment and facilities need to have a thorough understanding of the air compressor.
Before you attempt any maintenance or repairs on your own, take the time to read through the user manual. The solution may not require the repairs you think it does, or maybe your planned course of action would actually lead to worse issues. You could even potentially void your equipment’s warranty if you aren’t careful.
Cleaning and Inspection
The most basic element of air compressor maintenance, and indeed, all equipment maintenance, is keeping your machinery clean and conducting frequent visual inspections to pinpoint wear, damage, or other issues that could worsen over time. The last thing you want is a midnight call because the air compressor has failed, so schedule time to regularly check wear and tear on items like hoses and air filters. Be sure to also clear away dust and dirt, clean intake valves, and drain condensate. Also be sure that vibration hasn’t loosened any nuts or bolts. Not every issue will require repairs and downtime, but every factor is important and needs to be checked.
If your air compressor model relies on oil to lubricate parts, you’ll need to change the oil regularly (or at least top it off), just like you do with a car. It’s also important to inspect the shutoff system, a vital fail-safe against overheating. Environmental conditions such as humidity, paired with high demand during summer months, could lead to the failure of the safety shutoff mechanism, resulting in overheating that could cause significant damage. You may need to reference the user’s manual to properly inspect and test this component and make sure it is operational.
Call in the Professionals
While there are certain maintenance tasks you probably feel comfortable handling on your own or turning over to technicians on your team, it’s not a bad idea to schedule annual visits from professionals who have the expertise to thoroughly clean and inspect your system, as well as make recommendations about repairs, upgrades, and so on. Proper maintenance will ensure that your system performs as you need it to at all times, but more importantly, it will give you the best chance to enjoy optimal efficiency, save money, and catch minor problems before they result in downtime that lowers productivity and your bottom line.
Related: How Preventative Maintenance can Save You Money
If you want to avoid costly snafus that damage equipment and impact productivity, be sure to perform regular inspections and maintenance to the best of your ability, and partner with professionals to keep your air compressor and other industrial equipment running smoothly year-round. For further assistance with maintaining your air compressor, as well as other equipment, contact the experts at Tate Engineering. Our knowledgeable team is eager to help.
