Air compressors are used in many different industries as well as by private citizens to power tools, cool air and much more. Owning an air compressor, or a HVAC unit with an air compressor inside of it, will mean routine maintenance and the ability to handle a compressor valve leak on the unit.
For example, a compressor, also known as an air conditioner’s “heart,” is a critical and often costly component of the air cooling cycle. The job of this compressor is to circulate the refrigerant required during the heat exchange process through the coils. The electricity that flows through the home AC compressor powers the air conditioner, which absorbs heat from your home and converts it into cool air, and is then pushed back into your home. The only way to keep your home AC compressor in good working order is to schedule regular tune-ups, maintenance, or air conditioning repair Columbia MD, with a licensed professional. These AC repairs and maintenance are critical for those who live in extremely hot and humid climates. It is because a non-serviced/non-repaired AC may use more energy to deliver cool air or may not provide effective cooling.
Still, if you notice that even after you have your air conditioner serviced on a regular basis, it is not working efficiently, it most likely needs to be replaced with the help of experts like the ones at DUCTZ of Boca Raton. Its operation might also be affected by its age. This is due to the fact that an AC unit can last for up to 15-20 years on average. As a result, even if you try to maintain it properly, it may act up. You can easily detect when your air conditioner isn’t working properly, such as when it doesn’t blow cold air or when you see moisture or leakage around the unit; that’s when you should probably consider installing a new air conditioner. Buying a new air conditioner might be less expensive than repairing your old one.
However, if you don’t intend to replace your AC, the steps you will need to take to handle the compressor valve leak include diagnosing the problem, researching repairs and finding parts. You can then fix the unit and get back to work.
Luckily, you can do most of this yourself with a bit of research, the right parts and the correct tools.
1. Diagnose the Cause of Your Compressor Valve Leak
It may be fairly easy to determine if your air compressor is leaking because you can sometimes hear it but figuring out where that leak is coming from can be a different matter.
Other signs that you might need a new compressor valve include the compressor stalling out, taking a long time to build pressure and loosing pressure during use.
Some models will also blow fuses repeatedly when one or more of the valves needs to be replaced. The more of these symptoms your air compressor has, the more confident you can be that the valve needs to be replaced.
If you are a larger company with multiple compressors, then you probably have a certified technician on hand to help you determine which part of the unit is faulty. Smaller companies and private citizens usually do not have this advantage, so knowing how to diagnose the problem for your make and model is key.
You can find more specific symptoms for your compressor valve leak by consulting the owner’s manual online or from your files.
Sometimes the manufacturer will have updated information and step-by-step guides on its website. You can also find technicians in your area to help you with diagnosis and repair to save you the time and hassle of doing it yourself.
2. Research Repairs
After a compressor valve leak, some repairs will be easier to complete than others and some equipment will require a licensed professional to repair.
Even if you can repair the unit yourself, doing the research on your particular make and model can ensure that the fix is a good one. You can find professional technicians in your area to help you repair your model of compressor if you want to hire the right kind of help. This can save you time in doing the job yourself and get your production line up and running again.
By looking online, you can find step-by-step instructions for all kinds of air compressor repairs to help you decide whether you can tackle it yourself safely as well as show you how it is done.
This can be helpful for the professional technician as well as the private owner because every make and model will be slightly different. You can even give yourself an advantage on future needed repairs and maintenance if you do this research when you buy the unit.
3. Find Parts
Inlet and discharge valves are shaped like flaps of metal and are tasked with handling airflow.
Having the right size and shape of valve will determine whether your repair fixed the problem. Finding the right air compressor valves for your equipment can be easier than you think.
There are companies, found online, designed to make the valve you need, when you need it. This can help you get a variety of parts at the same time and be sure that you have what you need for the repair.
This means determining which parts you need as well as what tools are recommended for the job. Most of this information can be found in your user’s manual or on the manufacturer’s website and will include part numbers and sometimes even step-by-step instructions.
Many parts manufacturers can offer you the valves you need for a variety of different types of compressors, so if you have more than one model, it is a good idea to find comprehensive valve supplier.
One of the easiest ways to get the right parts you need for your valve replacement is to take the part number you need to a company offering kits for repairs and replacements.
This can ensure that you get the right part as well as any gaskets and other materials you need for the job at hand. The biggest benefit of getting your parts from valve manufacturers offering kits is that you can get the right parts for all your compressors, as well as backups, at the same time.
Many of these manufacturers will also offer other parts so you can get more repairs for more equipment from the same source.
4. Get Back to Work
A broken air compressor means down time for your production lines, repair shop or HVAC. This means that the quicker you can get the right parts and repairs, the faster you can get back to work.
By having the right parts and knowledge on hand after the first repair, you can limit the time that your lines stop the next time you have a breakdown.
Time is money, even for the private compressor owner, and the longer your unit is down the less work you can get done on time. The sooner you can finish the repair, the sooner you can get back to work.
This means having the right parts, information, and assistance when it comes to repairs and maintenance of your compressor needs. If you’re not sure about how this is done, try to take the assistance of an HVAC Contractor in Oklahoma City or elsewhere to get it sorted.
Handling a compressor valve leak can be easier than you initially think, especially if you are prepared before it happens.
This means following the four steps of diagnosing the problem, researching repairs, finding parts and getting back to work.
Your time and effort are valuable and if your production lines are down for repairs, then you are losing money as well as time.
Fortunately, you can find the right parts, information and technicians for the job by looking online for parts kits, owner’s manuals and licensed professionals to help you handle the leak.
The sooner you do your research before the repair is needed, the less down time your line is likely to have; however, you can also do the research fairly quickly and get the right parts fast when needed.