Get Your Compressed Air System Ready for Winter Once More

Compressed air systems are distributed across a lot of different industries for the purpose of powering pneumatic tools and machinery. In order to maintain efficiency of this equipment in the approach to and during winter, there are some important practices that need to be followed.

We shared the article Protecting Your Air Compressor Against Winter last year that covered some of the steps you can take to protect your equipment. We’re back with another article because we have some more tips on how you do the most for your air compressor over the course of the colder months.

Locating and repairing leaks

Air leaks within compressed air pipes can lead to your compressed air system working inefficiently, more so during the colder months and low temperatures can worsen the effects of an air leak. Large leaks can be heard whereas smaller leaks can go undetected but they can be just as detrimental to the performance of your air compressor as they can cause drops in pressure. Cold weather can cause moisture near the leaks to freeze, contract and expand which can worsen leaks further, so it’s important to conduct a thorough inspection of the system.

Maintaining air filters

Blocked and oversaturated air filters can lead to a contaminated air supply as dust and particulates cannot be effectively removed. During winter, frozen condensate can act as a blockage and to avoid this make sure that the condensate in your air filters is properly drained. Clogged air filters can result in system-wide pressure drops which in turn can cause equipment to shut down and affect overall production. It is especially important to carry out air filter checks over

Heat recovery system

Air compressor systems can generate significant amounts of heat; if recovered, this heat can be used as part of various processes within a facility including acting as a source of heat for workspaces. A heat recovery system can offset the cost of producing hot water which is likely to increase over winter.

Checking for drain malfunction

Condensate drains are designed for the purpose of releasing unwanted water and they eliminate the need for manual drainage of equipment. If these drains are not maintained it can cause condensate to build up which can freeze and expand and contract. If you use timer drains as part of your compressed air system, the only disadvantage is that the time intervals between drain cycles need to be frequently adjusted and improper timing can lead to condensate retention, whereas leaving the drain open for too long leads to a waste of compressed air.

If you would like more information on how to care for your air compressor during winter, or any time of year for that matter, a member of the Maziak team would be happy to help. You can get in touch at enquiries@maziak.co.uk or call us on 01933 222 000.