air compressor - dangerous????

fireguy

When you replace the valve, use a 1/4 turn ball valve.

tazmon3

The reason you need to bleed water from your tank is because the tank will rust when water is in it. Since there is almost always humidity in ambient air, the air that you compress will always put moisture in the tank, unless you have a drying system (which few, if any do-it-your-selfers would have). The reason you bleed the water is to keep it to a minimum to slow down the rusting process. A steel tank will eventually rust through though, even if you bleed it, but hopefully not as fast.

I had a tank that did rust through, but it didn't explode. It developed pin leaks in the bottom. When they got big enough for me to hear the air escaping, I stopped using it and replaced the tank.

When you consider that psi is literally the gage reading, times the total square inches of the tank, the pressure exerted on the entire tank can be in the thousands of pounds, which a new tank can contain. However when the tank is compromised the amount of pressure it can contain deminishes. It's unlikely that the tank will have a catastrofic failure, but if it did, it's conceivable it could do unbelievable damage to the surrounding area, as well as to anyone near by. You would be wise to bleed it often and to keep an eye and ear pealed for leaks. Also empty the tank of it's pressure and replace the valve asap. And, use the same type of valve including the metal it's made from.
Hope this helps,
Tazmon3

allenc88

Hello all, I'm a newbie with concerns about my air compressor too. I surfed and got this link and registered for "dangerous" air compressor. Without having to start a new thread, I wanted to add to this.

Likewise I haven't use it for awhile and when I started using it I noticed that the auto shutoff pressure knob wasn't shutting off at 80lbs like before. I turned it off at 110 lbs before it got to 125lbs max.

I know that it's not normal but having a fear of an exploding tank and still using it. At first I was tempted to just turn it on in the backyard and wait at a safe distance for it to do something like shutoff. Would anyone say this is normal and fixable or would I need to trash it? Thanks for your replies.

scrapiron

To allenc88, most compressors have a pressure relief valve in case the pressure switch does not work correctly. I believe most pressure control switches are factory set to come on around 80 psi and cut off around 125 psi.

seobeglobal

whether an ait compressor outputs a dangerous amount of static electricity for computers???

Ron6519

These tools come with instructions and maintainance suggestions. You should keep them by the unit so you can familiarize yourself with their requirements.
How would you explain muddy water coming out of the compressor tank?
Ron

unknownsoldierx

I have a Craftsman 33gal 150psi compressor. The drain valve on the bottom is leaking. I am contemplating replacing it with a ball valve as I've seen suggested here and other places.

What do you guys think? Is it safe?

fireguy

Ron is it muddy water or rusty water?

A vessel under pressure can explode, catastrophically. (Big noise, pieces of metal flying in all directions.) If a pinhole developes, the tank will leak and the comppressor may not be able to develope enough pressure to trip the shut-off switch. Many pressure vessels are required to be pressure tested periodically. Those vessels are not tested with air,but with a non-compressble liqued. the test pressures vary depending on factors such as working pressure, tank material, contents, mfg requirments and Fed-DOT requirements.

UnknownsoldierEX, if you have concerns as to my knowledge and working w/pressure vessels, do not take my advice. I can understand your reticence to take the advice of an unknown person, so I will mention I have worked w/fire extinguishers, SCBAs,( some of which I used in fire situations) nitrogen tanks, dry sprinkler systems, fire suppressison systems for over 30 years. The pressures I work with range from 80 PSI to 2100 PSI. At present, my 5 service trucks are equiped with 2100 PSI N tanks and depending on the service required by customers, portable air compressors.

Ron6519

"Ron is it muddy water or rusty water?
You would need to ask the original poster, these were his words.
Ron