Is an Air Conpressor SAFE IF....

[SumpChump]

IS IT SAFE?

Sears upright air compressor bought BRAND SPANKING 5 years ago. Very nice machine.

Used properly for 6 months prior to owners passing. 50-60 gallon with drain outlet on the bottom pump on the top. It has been stored in a clean corner (perhaps some spider I'd suppose)in an attached garage(but not heated garage)covered with a large plastic leaf bag over the top as a dust guard. Cars do come and go from the garage in all 4 seasons.

It was stored empty with the bottom valve OPEN the entire 5 years. Minnesota.

If it is "safe" could it likely have inner surface rust (damaging to tools) from being left valve open to the atmosphere... or was that actually a great thing to do.

 

[anonobomber]

It should be fine. Even with the valve closed there'd still be air in there. Change the oil in the pump and let 'er rip.

 

[skulldrinker]

I'd say just use it.

 

[Doog]

I have one with the 26 gallon tank upright. Open the drain cock and spray some Wd40 in there and allow to drain. Then let her rip. If you are worried about your tools get an inline filter.

Do lube the drain valve. Mine rusted shut and was a PIA to replace.

 

[bigt61]

I've got a 36 year old Craftsman compressor in the corner of my garage. I've only drained water out twice in 36 years...and I've never changed the oil. It got used a lot in the 20 years I was racing. It still works fine. If they are stored inside out of the elements, they are hard to kill.

 

[SumpChump]

Ok.


I wasn't sure if she'd cake with inner powdery rust if left open to the elements for those five years, probably not hey.

 

[Donald]

You should have a filter on the air line regardless.

 

[Traction]

Originally Posted By: bigt61
I've got a 36 year old Craftsman compressor in the corner of my garage. I've only drained water out twice in 36 years...and I've never changed the oil. It got used a lot in the 20 years I was racing. It still works fine. If they are stored inside out of the elements, they are hard to kill.


Compressors should be drained before EVERY use. Any water the tank will quickly vaporize into the warm air and add to any moisture problems at the tool as the air cools back down. Ever notice how cold and wet a die grinder gets? A local car dealers compressor quit, only to find out the 80 gallon tank was completely full of water!

 

[philipp10]

I wouldn't take a chance with it...too much at stake. I too live in Minnesota, I'll stop by and haul it away for you. You can pay me $20...lol

 

[JC1]

I bought a used 26 gallon Coleman air compressor a few years ago. When I brought it home I tried to remove the drain cock and it was seized in place. I ended up getting it off with vice grips and out came at least a quart and a half of rusty water which looked like gravy.

I wasn't too upset since I only spent $80 on the compressor.

What I ended up doing was putting a ball valve on the drain. Refer to this video for an example.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fu3yruEPQY

Once I installed the ball valve, I ran the compressor for 5 mins and then opened the ball valve to purge all the rusty water out of it. After doing that about 20 times over two days, the compressor was fine.

I always leave the drain open after I use the compressor. When I start it up, it always shoots out a little water from inside the tank. After 5 seconds of running on startup I then close the ball valve.

You shouldn't have an issue once the tank is drained.

Regards, JC.

 

[BHopkins]

Don't federal safety regulations require all pressurized vessels, such as compressor tanks, to have a certification? And don't those certifications have an expiration?

I know in our company, pressure tanks are monitored very carefully. Tanks are replaced when they reach a certain age. And any time a pressure tank is taken out of service, it cannot be sold as scrap. they are always destroyed. The liability is too great.

 

[philipp10]

given that the bottom valve was left open shouldn't be an issue. Very little air would have traveled in and out over that time and the little bit that did wouldn't contain much moisture. If it had been outside I might think differently but in a garage in Minnesota, not an issue. I leave my valve open all the time except when I used the compressor. One thing I did when the unit was new was to fog the inside of the tank with oil. I would hope in this day that we are applying enough safety factor to tank design that a spec of rust would not be dangerous.

 

[philipp10]

and BTW, stored with the valve open is probably better than the valve closed. If it had been closed, you would have to make the assumption that water had been left in the tank all those years.. At least you know it had been drained.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: BHopkins
Don't federal safety regulations require all pressurized vessels, such as compressor tanks, to have a certification? And don't those certifications have an expiration?

I know in our company, pressure tanks are monitored very carefully. Tanks are replaced when they reach a certain age. And any time a pressure tank is taken out of service, it cannot be sold as scrap. they are always destroyed. The liability is too great.


It is my understanding this is applicable only to units used commercially.
The first garage i ever worked at had a compressor from the 40's so it was 30 years old then. The state inspected it in the 70's and reduced the psi approval to 140 psi instead of the original 175 psi on the tank.
That being said no one has ever inspected my tank. Maybe they don't bother anymore if its under a certain age.