Air Compressor Works
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Many companies that have compressed air, have timed electric drains on their tanks.

These auto drains are convenient because you don’t have to remember to drain your tank daily. However, the convenience is a double-edged sword. They are SO convenient that the person maintaining the compressor might forget to maintenance them.

These drains have a strainer that needs to be cleaned.

Depending on the age of the tank and usage; you should check the strainer weekly. It’s very easy to do.

Here’s how:

• SAFETY FIRST – Make sure the power to the compressor is disconnected at the disconnect. DO NOT rely on the pressure switch. Make sure the drain is unplugged from it’s electrical supply. Make sure you drain all the pressure out of the tank.
• Find the strainer on the drain. It should be piped between the solenoid of the drain and the tank. There will be a nut you can remove without un piping it. On some strainers it’s on the end, and others, the middle.
• Remove the nut, take out the mesh inside, clean and put everything back together. Turn everything back on, pressure test it by having the drain manually open (usually there’s a button on the drain.) CHECK FOR LEAKS.

The whole process should only take a few minutes, unless the nut is stuck.

If the mesh is gone, you can pick some up from a local hardware store, cut it to size, roll it into a cylinder and put it in the strainer.

If you don’t have a strainer – get one. You can pick them up nearly anywhere compressor parts are sold (and they are cheap.) Just check the psi rating to make sure it meets or exceeds the psi rating of your tank.

This simple step can prevent a drain failure. An unnoticed drain failure can be a disaster – the tank filling with water, shooting downstream, damaging all of your equipment.

Never skimp on your maintenance – you’ll pay for it later.

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