Over the years, air compressors have become a mainstay in commercial, construction, and industrial setups. Right from Manufacturing to Agriculture, from Aircraft Engines to HVAC systems, air compressors are being used extensively for cleaning, inflating, as well as for powering up a wide range of pneumatic devices. Air compressors can generally be classified as Diesel, Petrol and Electric Powered Compressors, depending on their energy source.
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Reason for Overheating in Air Compressors
As is true with almost all devices, even air compressors suffer from occasional performance issues, and more often than not the problem can be attributed to overheating of the compressors. This is mainly caused due to certain internal factors or some external conditions or in some cases both of these. Wondering how? Well, let us spell it out for you!
The process of compression leads to heating up of the air, which is rather normal, as the air cools down swiftly before reaching the endpoint. This cooling down of the air takes place in the 6-inch distance between the discharge port and the discharge line. Ideally, the maximum temperature at the discharge line should be less than or equal to 225 Fahrenheit. However, due to certain internal or external conditions, there are times when the temperature reaches a whopping 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This damages the refrigerant oil and the suffering of the adjacent mechanisms. In rare cases, the temperature might even exceed 350 degrees Fahrenheit, which results in an imminent system failure.
Signs of Overheating Air Compressors
Fortunately (or not), it is rather easy to gauge overheating issues in a compressor. For all you know if the air compressor is not behaving as it should, it is nothing but a heating issue. Here are some of the most prominent signs that point to a overheating problem in your compressor –
Ignition Problem
In case the compressor doesn’t turn on as it normally would, there is an underlying heating problem that needs attention. This may be likely due to an increase in the time taken for the internal components to cool down from one cycle to another. On the other hand, if the device exhibits a delayed startup and takes more than the usual time to get fully operational, it could be because of heat damage in the internal mechanism.
Tripping Issue
Every air compressor is facilitated with a circuit breaker that helps maintain the performance of the device by regulating the current flow. If however, you notice any irregularities in the functioning of the circuit breaker, such as random tripping then it is a sign of a severe, more likely overheating, issue inside the compressor!
Oil-Related Issues
If there are creaking noises, or oily smells coming from the compressor that feels unusual you may be looking at insufficient lubrication or worse poor oil quality. If not intervened in time, this may result in a domino effect damaging the internal mechanism, and you guessed it, causing overheating!
Quick Exhaustion
When you start noticing signs of the wearing down of the machine mere days after a full-servicing or when it is new enough to function abnormally the problem might be more or less about the vents, the condenser parts or the refrigerant, all eventually giving way to overheating issues.
Tips to Troubleshoot an Overheating Compressor
When you notice the aforementioned signs of overheating, you can try and find the root cause of the issue, before getting in touch with a professional. Here are some tips to help you with just that –
- A heat source such as a dryer vent located near the compressor could cause high head pressure. This can also be a result of murky condenser coils, a damaged condenser fan or excessive refrigerant.
- External factors such as voltage fluctuations, spikes in power, grid issues or erratic electrical transformer can also lead to the overheating of the air compressor.
- The lack of refrigerant in the system can lead to a problem known as high superheat in the compressor. This can also be caused by a faultymetering component or something like a hot-water pipe located in the compressor’s close proximity.
- Sometimes a dirty air filter, an unclean evaporator coil, or a damaged capacitor may result in short-cycling of the compressor which may subsequently result in overheating.
Tips to Prevent Overheating Air Compressor
As is with all things, prevention is better than cure in air compressors as well. And simply following the below-mentioned tips can help you prevent the much-dreaded overheating problem, and help save your precious time and money that would otherwise go into the servicing and repair of the air compressor.
Improve the Ventilation
It is crucial that the air compressor enjoys both internal and surrounding ventilation. With the help of a professional, double-check if your compressor has sufficient vents. If not, deploy them wherever necessary based on the dimensions suggested by the professional. Moreover, check if the compressor is placed in an area that is relatively cooler and well ventilated. Also, placing the compressor such that all the vents get ample breathing space can prove to be helpful.
Keep a Tab on the Oil Level and Filters
For the seamless functioning of the air compressor, it is crucial that the quantity and quality of the oil are optimal. You can make sure of this by inspecting the device as often as possible. And when you do so, make sure to check if the filters seem to be working properly as well.
Inspect the Ventilation and Ducting
In some cases, simply enhancing the ventilation may not be enough, as there may be occasions when the machine could overheat due to the accumulation of dirt or dust near the vents. Hence make sure to monitor the vents and clean them whenever required. Similarly, keep a check on the ducting to ensure that there is no unwanted crimping or puncturing that may lead to heating issues in the compressor.
Update the Compressor
With the changing needs of your operations, the demand on your compressor may increase from time to time. To help the compressor meet this demand for increased amounts of airpower, add optimal components to the compressor to keep the load to a minimum as its operational capacity increases.
Of course, you can take all the preventive measures and troubleshoot the air compressor all you want but there will come a time when your air compressor simply won’t function as efficiently as it should. In such a case, you will need to buy a new air compressor. And just in case, your budget doesn’t allow for it, you can even consider buying a used air compressor from a trusted supplier such as Swift Equipment Solutions!
FAQs
How Often Do I Need to Change the Oil in My Air Compressor?
Changing oil once every three months should ensure the hassle-free functioning of the compressor. However, you should stick to the manufacturer’s recommendation in this regard.
What Is the Correct Voltage for My Air Compressor?
While small air compressors operate well on 110 volts, larger compressors may need up to 460 volts for optimal functioning.
How Do I Control Contaminants in the Compressor?
Have your air filters inspected by an expert once every 3 months, to ensure that your air compressor functions seamlessly, and that your compressed air is clean!
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