I worked at a boat factory once. Outside was a large ingersoll rand v twin with a 350 ltr tank. One day the lads were moaning about how knackered it was & there was never enough air for the tools. It started pumping water through the tools. I asked "When was it last drained down?" nobody knew so i went & turned the drain cock. It flooded the yard. The thing was literally full up with water. We had tons of air after that! I drain mine every day.
- Thread starter The Z'eer
- Start date
I have a question on drain taps, my 100litre thing has a drain screw underneath, checking the thread looks like an 1/8th BSP thread.
The cheap thing that it is the screw is just about on the end of the threads, as the threads actually start about 1/4inch from the end of the plug.
I would like to replace this screw with a drain tap, now I have not checked but can you the drain taps with 1/8th BSP end?
I can see that if I do not do this one day I will have a drain screw blasted into my hand.
Adrian
The cheap thing that it is the screw is just about on the end of the threads, as the threads actually start about 1/4inch from the end of the plug.
I would like to replace this screw with a drain tap, now I have not checked but can you the drain taps with 1/8th BSP end?
I can see that if I do not do this one day I will have a drain screw blasted into my hand.
Adrian
123hotchef
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toolstation do them in the gas fittings section mate i think
droopsnoot
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Mine's a little 50l Clarke or Sealey unit, the manual says drain it every day so I always open the tap after I've used it (which isn't every day). I don't leave it with pressure in the tank, so I leave it with the tap open when it's not being used.
The Z'eer
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Wonderful array of information here gentlemen, all replies appreciated 
The common theme appears that if used on a regular basis then the tank should be drained more frequently.
The compressor in the garage is currently only used for infrequent small jobs, I think leaving the system pressurised for a month or so seems feasible.
The common theme appears that if used on a regular basis then the tank should be drained more frequently.
The compressor in the garage is currently only used for infrequent small jobs, I think leaving the system pressurised for a month or so seems feasible.
My cheapo compressor blew out the drain valve on Sunday, I was just 1/4 turn out and it just took the thing out, looks like the threads were that bad, granted I was at around 4 bar, but was not trying to remove it just crack the seal so it would empty slowly. Yes you are correct i should not be doing it under pressure.
Anyway found that there was a reducer in there going from 1/4 bsp to 1/8 bsp, so out with the reducer cleaned the threads a bit and today fitted a 1/4 bsp ball valve from Toolstation as suggested by @123hotchef, seems to be the smallest size in stock. So hope it will be OK, it is up to 8 bar and holding now.
Adrian
Anyway found that there was a reducer in there going from 1/4 bsp to 1/8 bsp, so out with the reducer cleaned the threads a bit and today fitted a 1/4 bsp ball valve from Toolstation as suggested by @123hotchef, seems to be the smallest size in stock. So hope it will be OK, it is up to 8 bar and holding now.
Adrian
123hotchef
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i always drain mine under pressure for a few seconds when i think about it
It should be safer now with the ball valve, but before with it at full pressure it could have made a hole in hand.
The SIP 25 L compressor I have the drain valve is fine I can just slacken it off a small amount and let it spit and spat until empty.
Adrian
The SIP 25 L compressor I have the drain valve is fine I can just slacken it off a small amount and let it spit and spat until empty.
Adrian
james butler
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this might sound wasteful and a bit naughty but i leave my drain plug open all the time a tiny tiny bit.
it means the tank won't keep pressure when you leave it but to be honest it never seems to have condensation in it.
i have the clarke water traps too but they only seem to auto drain when the air drops off so if i leave the drain cock open the air runs out and the auto drains then drain anything that might be in them.
it means the tank won't keep pressure when you leave it but to be honest it never seems to have condensation in it.
i have the clarke water traps too but they only seem to auto drain when the air drops off so if i leave the drain cock open the air runs out and the auto drains then drain anything that might be in them.
droopsnoot
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And me. My drain valve is knurled around the outside and my fingers tend to be gripping that rather than across the air outlet. And I've got quite a few leaks in pipe joints and the like, so the pressure is already on the way down. Not sure I'd do that if it was a big compressor, though.
GingerNuttz
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I bought a compressor a few weeks back and this is what came out of the tank, i doubt this had ever been drained since it was new. This is why i drain our compressors every few days
postie jon
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allways drained it in a morning when we switched it on .
that looks like a water/oil mix ?
check the compressor oil level before you use it too much!
GingerNuttz
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Load of water and granite dust thats mixed with oil lol, the pump has had a hard life
. We fully serviced the pump and dropped a new motor on.Just shows how bad things can get without proper care though...
