Regular draining of compressor...?

[The Z'eer]

The instructions recommend my Wolf Dakota is drained of moisture/water every week. I guess this is good practice to limit corrosion, but I kind like to keep the system pressurised for the sake of convenience.

What say you...?

 

[gaz_moose]

just do it when you remember/can be arsed like most people do.

 

[brightspark]

haven't done mine in 6 month another round tuit. they go rusty anyhow even if u drain them, suppose the small ones need it regular as there running there nads off all the time and produce more water

 

[cumbriasteve]

When we had the garage and two big compressors we always opened the drain over the weekend and sometimes midweek, they were used a lot though during the week.

My own small one I leave the drain open all the time but that is probably only used once a month for short periods so would likely have seeped the pressure away anyways.

My opinion is the drains there for a reason so I tend to use it, others probably never bother and seem to have few problems.

 

[armalites]

I replaced the valve on mine with a lever ball valve so it's very easy to do. I have a hose reel that bleeds a bit of air so if the pressure is down when I start it up I drain it every time I start it up. I let it run for a while with the valve open. Even if it's up to pressure the lever valve means you can give it a bit of blast easily. Mine is easy to get to though

 

[grim_d]

Every 6 months at best. Whenever I have a big tidy up and if I remember.

Can't be that rusty inside given the oily goop that comes out it.

 

[500e]

Fitted ball valves on all ours brought them out on Aeroflex hose to where they can be got at easily.
Dry air especially with plasma cutters is a must, looking at auto drains

 

[optima21]

Ive got an auto drain valve, its the valve from a Clarke air filter that I has spare

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cat152-14-mini-air-filter/

fitted into a new bush in the bottom of the compressor

 

[Turbo]

You can fit a solenoid valve to the drain hole on a timer that opens the valve for a few seconds every time the compressor starts up.

 

[rcx132]

I drain mine once a week as they are in a separate enclosure behind my garage, not easily accessible. I also replaced my drain valves with ballcock valves to make it quicker to drain, the stock drain valves take forever. My tanks are pressurised all the time, apparently some people say that's not good but never heard why.

 

[addjunkie]

My tanks are pressurised all the time, apparently some people say that's not good but never heard why.

Not heard that one before. I drain mine at home, though its not used very often. But its a habbit thing for me, just what I was taught as an apprentice in the merchant navy..Drain the air bottles every watch.

 

[Gareth J]

You don't necessarily need to depressurised it when draining, just crack the drain screw every now and then when you remember. Walk away and leave it open for a minute or two if it needs it. If loads comes out, try to do it more often. I tend to do it when I'm thinking about getting the air a bit drier; sandblasting or spraying normally and do it then. Works fine for me.

 

[brightspark]

You don't necessarily need to depressurised it when draining, just crack the drain screw every now and then when you remember. Walk away and leave it open for a minute or two if it needs it. If loads comes out, try to do it more often. I tend to do it when I'm thinking about getting the air a bit drier; sandblasting or spraying normally and do it then. Works fine for me.

not advisable to open them when under pressure. I did it nothing came out and all of a sudden it let rip 120 psi of crap oil and water splattered all over the floor and coated me as well . best just starting empty turn tap[ on then comp on and it will drain reasonably fast with just a few psi

 

[armalites]

not advisable to open them when under pressure. I did it nothing came out and all of a sudden it let rip 120 psi of crap oil and water splattered all over the floor and coated me as well

In fairness that tends to happen when you don't drain them regularly.I did exactly the same on my old compressor, it was obviously blocked and poked a bit wire in and it scared the crap out of me and it

 

[Gareth J]

not advisable to open them when under pressure. I did it nothing came out and all of a sudden it let rip 120 psi of crap oil and water splattered all over the floor and coated me as well . best just starting empty turn tap[ on then comp on and it will drain reasonably fast with just a few psi

Fair enough, mines in a pretty dank corner so a bit of gunk firing out under pressure has never been an issue. I tend to open it a bit and do something else until it fires out clean air anyway

 

[123hotchef]

I have a electric solenoid with timmer on my big hard to reach one so it auto drains itself every 30 minutes of use

 

[knighty]

slightly off topic but in keeping with the above....

I bought a 2000 litre air receiver on ebay (cheap) because... why not?

filled it up to 120psi, left it a few days, no leaks, perfect!


figgured I should check the drain valve, it's a 1inch valve.. crouched down and tried to crack it open... it was stuck... tried a bit harder and it opened all the way... the blast of air literally blew me over onto my back

 

[GW8IZR]

Prompted by this very thread I went to the workshop and did mine. Its normally done every week or so but a few weeks back it slipped off the bit of wood that held it horizontal allowing water to collect at the end of the tank.

I straightened it up a bit and woosh splutter splash! the dog went back to the house out of the way......

 

[brightspark]

Prompted by this very thread I went to the workshop and did mine. Its normally done every week or so but a few weeks back it slipped off the bit of wood that held it horizontal allowing water to collect at the end of the tank.

I straightened it up a bit and woosh splutter splash! the dog went back to the house out of the way......

was in my garage today so went for a look under comp. tons of crap to move to get to it so I didn't bother

 

[Johnseat]

I drain mine every time I use it which is several times per month.