3 Maintenance Steps for Your Air Compressor

Whether its the industrial-grade power supplied by a compressed air service Jacksonville FL company or the force behind your compact nail gun, air compressors produce a steady flow of air to act as a powerful force for tools, manufacturing, or vehicle propulsion. It is important to take of your compressor if you want to get the most use out of it, and these are the steps you take to conduct maintenance on the machine. Maintenance should be done according to the manufacturer’s guidelines or at least once a year.

Change the Oil

Changing the oil protects the efficiency of your machine. Let the unit run for a few minutes to warm and thin the oil. Remove the fill cap prior to removing the drain plug. Let the oil drain into a container, then replace the drain plug by using an adjustable wrench. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for the oil replacement, and fill the system according to the requirements.

Change the Air Filter

Changing out the air filter jeeps the flow of intake from getting blocked. Use the manufacturer’s guide to locate the filter. Some are easily pulled out by hand while others are screwed in. Have a replacement filter already order to simply swap out.

Change the Compressor Belt

Determine where the belt is located.  You may need to unscrew a protective cage in order to gain access to the belt and pulleys. Check the belt, looking for cracks and signs of wear. If it does need to be replaced, you will pull the belt over the largest wheel first and rotate the pulleys. Once the belt is off, simply put the new belt on by starting with the smallest pulley and working it across the larger wheel.

These three areas are the biggest air compressor maintenance items you can handle on your own. Routine maintenance helps reduce the chance of a more serious malfunction.