5 Top Tips for Maintaining Compressed Air Systems in Summer
Posted on July 8th, 2020
Summer can wreak havoc with your compressed air system if preventative measures are not put in place to protect it from the rising temperatures. An increase of heat and humidity on a hot day, combined with the rapid cooling of the system on an evening, will create excess moisture and increase water loading. Which will subsequently cause a strain on your systems performance.
Follow these 5 tips to prepare your compressed air systems for summer and avoid costly downtime:
1) Install the correct filtration and dry your air.
A good filtration and drying system is essential to compressor efficiency all year round, but especially important in the summer months. Warm temperatures through the day and cooler temperatures at night lead to moisture condensing in compressed air pipework. This can have a seriously damaging effect on downstream equipment or on product quality.
The first line of defence in removing excess moisture is a Water Separator, which can remove as much as 99% of accumulated water.
Coalescing filters should also be installed as they will remove fine oil aerosols and particulate and condition the air to a level suitable for a compressed air dryer.
Finally, Desiccant Dryers will remove any remaining water vapour, ensuring your air is completely dry.
2) Clean air and oil filters.
Maintaining filters by removing any dirt or dust and servicing your filter elements will allow the system to run more smoothly and use less energy.
3) Change the oil.
Heat and humidity affect the viscosity of oil. Therefore, changing the oil in the compressor before summer will help to maximise its ability to lubricate the compressor.
4) Inspect drains.
The rise in humidity levels in summer will mean that drains need to work harder to release the increased flow of condensate. Checking all condensate drains on tanks, dryers and filters will help to make sure they are functioning correctly.
5) Check ventilation.
Make sure you ventilate your compressor room and adjust airflow appropriately. Increased airflow and good ventilation will help keep temperatures low and the compressor working more efficiently.