It’s important to frequently check your compressors. With that said, a compressor maintenance checklist is useful to ensure that you avoid costly problems and stay under budget. Read below for more details.
Your machine will tend to work efficiently, and for a longer time if you pay the extra care and attention to ensure that everything is in order each time. It’ll take away the need to replace the entire unit within a few months or years due to mechanical or electrical failure.
What’s more, it is essential to budget for maintenance or issues that may arise in the short or long run. The goal is to ensure that while you carry out frequent maintenance checks, it does not add more expenses than you budgeted for.
Because if it does, it would defeat the purpose of maintaining your compressor from time to time since it would mean additional expenses.
But not to worry, try some of the best compressor maintenance tips and you’ll have everything under control.
What is Compressor Maintenance?
Compressor maintenance is a routine preventive inspection to ensure the reliable and optimum operation of compressors.
Engineers and safety officers carry out compressor preventive maintenance on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. This is because these checks help to maintain the efficiency of the compressor.
For instance, there will be no water buildup which could lead to internal corrosion of the machine. Overheating will be minimized when internal components are not clogged or have proper ventilation.
Compressor maintenance also ensures the machine’s safety and compliance with international standards.
Compressor Maintenance Checklist
The compressor maintenance checklist outlined below are the procedures you should carry out on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Daily Compressor Maintenance Checks
- Inspect belts
- Inspect all air leaks
- Inspect for an oil leak
- Drain the water in the tank
- Check the level of the pump oil
- Check for weird noises or vibration
- Check the tension and condition of drive belts
- Ensure air and oil filters are kept free of dirt and debris
- Check lubricant pressure on pressure-lubricated units.
- Maintain lubricant level between high- and low- level marks on bayonet gauge
Weekly Compressor Maintenance Checks
- Check the air filters, and clean or replace them
Monthly Compressor Maintenance Checks
- Inspect the belts
- Service the pump or engine
- Check the safety relief valve
- Inspect and tighten all bolts
- Check connections for leaks
Let’s take a closer look at some of these:
Check the Compressor’s Pump Oil Level
Compressors need the right amount of oil to ensure that friction does not wear down certain parts while the machine is in operation.
However, if your unit is an oil-free compressor, it can be operated without lubricant. But if it isn’t, there is a great need to have the machine adequately lubricated.
Therefore, to check the compressor’s pump oil, do the following:
- Turn off the compressor and disconnect from its power source
- Allow the compressor to rest on a flat and level surface
- Take off the fill cap/plug
- Check the oil in the crankcase assembly and ensure that the oil has not exceeded the halfway point of the sight glass
- Check for debris or dirt in the oil
Change the Compressor’s Pump Oil
Now if the compressor’s oil is dirty or is running low, there is a need to replace it with fresh oil.
But before you proceed, keep in mind that the compressor pump head and parts surrounding it are hot. Hence, allow the compressor pump to cool off first.
Now do the following:
- Turn off the compressor and disconnect from its power source
- Allow the compressor to rest on a flat and level surface
- Take off the fill cap/plug
- Place a container beneath the oil drain cap
- Take off the oil drain cap and let the old oil flow out
- Replace the oil cap and ensure that it has been fixed securely
- Pour in the appropriate oil into the crankcase, and ensure that it does not exceed the halfway point
Check the Air’s Filter Element
Another useful maintenance check is to inspect the air’s filter element:
Here’s how to do it:
- Turn off the compressor and unplug it from the power source
- Wait for a while to allow the compressor pump to cool
- Turn in a counter-clockwise direction to unscrew the filter top from the filter’s base
- Separate the filter top cover from the base.
- Take out the element in the filter base
- Blow out the dirt in the filter element (Replace the filter element if needed)
- Replace the filter top to the base and secure the filter
How to Budget for Maintenance or Compressor Issues
Now that you know the daily, weekly, and monthly checks to carry out on your compressor, it is just as important to know how to prepare ahead for maintenance or compressor issues.
This is because this task can be an inconvenience especially when you have other priorities to attend to.
Nonetheless, the following budgeting tips will help you begin.
Type of Compressor:
The type of compressor you use will determine its service interval. Therefore, you need to determine if it is an oil-injected or oil-free compressor.
Reciprocating compressors need frequent oil changes, which could add up to standard operating costs.
On the other hand, oil-free compressors such as rotary screw require replacing air inlet filter, V-belts and check valves. However, they do not use oil, which can reduce operating costs significantly.
Installation Conditions:
The installation conditions for a compressor also determine its frequency of maintenance.
If the machine operates in a hot, dusty, humid, or dirty location, then it is needful to perform maintenance checks more frequently.
Compressors installed outdoors may be exposed to moisture, thereby requiring more maintenance. The same goes if the compressor is exposed to extreme temperatures or humidity.
Degree of Utilization:
The level of usage of a compressor in one company differs from another, hence, it can be used to determine how often the machine needs to be maintained.
In this case, the compressor may be used infrequently, frequently, or even more frequently. Accordingly, increased usage calls for more frequent maintenance checks.
It is also advisable to maintain your compressor at least once a year irrespective of how often you use it.
Audit Checks for Budgeting Maintenance Schedule
Carrying out an audit will help you to develop a better budget and maintenance schedule for your compressor.
It will also give you a better understanding of the compressor’s operating cost over time.
This audit includes:
- The amount of energy consumed by the compressor
- The amount of compressed air needed in operations
- Potential leaks in the system
- The amount of water, oil, and other particles that are in the compressor
Conclusion
A compressor maintenance checklist will ensure that you do not fail to inspect your machine from time to time.
Your compressor’s parts will not degrade easily and as such, you’ll have a machine that provides smooth and seamless performance each time.
At the end of the day, you’ll save yourself the huge cost of repairing a failing compressor or even getting a replacement.
Therefore, if you want to maintain your compressor’s high-level performance for a long time, and also save costs for repairs or replacement, frequent maintenance checks need to be carried out.
