Compressed Air Systems are not “Set and Forget”.
Considered the Fourth Utility, Compressed Air Equipment requires regular maintenance to ensure optimum performance. Incorporating Daily Checks to your Compressed Air Equipment will improve reliability, reduce the likelihood of unexpected failures, and reduces energy consumption.
Here are 5 Simple Daily Checks to carry out on your Compressed Air Equipment:
1. Check and record system parameters:
Check your equipment is operating within its parameters. Recording trends will highlight any performance issues, for example:
- Temperature – is the equipment running hotter than usual
- Pressure – is the pressure being maintained
- Dewpoint – is the dewpoint being maintained
- Warning messages – Checking for messages will provide you with valuable information to prevent failure.
2. Check the Air Intake is clear:
Blocked intake filters can cause performance and reliability issues. A blocked intake will restrict the airflow to your Air Compressor causing:
- Drop-in performance and output
- Increased Energy Consumption
- Increased Operating Temperatures
- Acceleration of component degradation
3. Check for Oil leaks:
Oil leaks can lead to many issues. Not only are they messy, but can impact your Air Compressors performance. This can lead to:
- Increased Operating Temperatures
- Unexpected failures, in some cases Catastrophic!
4. Check for Condensate:
Check your condensate management system is operating correctly and without leaks. Most Auto Drains have a test button that can be used to test for correct operation. Drain failure can lead to performance issues including:
- Increased Moisture levels within the compressed air system
- Damage of tools and components at the point of use
- Reduced storage volumes
- Increased system running cost’s
5. Listen to your system for changes:
Noise can be a valid indicator of changes within your system. By visiting regularly, any changes in noise will be noticeable. Noise can highlight potential problems, for example:
- Venting and Loading issues
- Leaks
- Mechanical Wear – Bearings and valves
- Electrical Noise
Implementing these 5 Daily Checks and following the Service Schedule provided by a reputable Service Provider, will reduce the risk of failure and maintain the reliability and performance of your Compressed Air Equipment.
