As we pass from the summer to autumn, it's worth noting the impact of the record breaking temperatures have had on your compressed air systems.
How did the warmest temperatures on record impact on your compressor?
June 2022 saw the warmest temperatures on record over the world's land areas – and for the first time on record, temperatures in the UK have exceeded 40°C. Did you know for every 4°C increase in the intake air temperature, if unregulated, your compressors efficiency drops by 1%. This is because cooler air is denser and reduces the load on the compressor.
If your compressor is poorly ventilated, overdue a service, it could be much worse!
If your air compressor gets too hot, it may require longer durations between usage cycles. This is because the internal components are probably taking longer to cool down between each cycle. Heat-degraded internal mechanisms can also cause the compressor to stall during startup and ultimately take longer to get into full operational mode. The problem could stem from insufficient ventilation, eroded oil or any given number of issues related to the wear and tear of machine parts. As the temperatures get cooler as we enter Autumn, you may think your problems have resolved themselves. But it could just be storing up problems for next summer.
Here's a checklist to make help prevent overheating
- Improve Ventilation
- Check the oil level and filters regularly
- Age and workload
If your compressor is already more than 20 years old, it could simply be due for a replacement. Consider the size and capacity of your compressed air system in relation to the demands at hand.
Helping to improve the efficiency and lifetime of existing equipment
With preventative maintenance and proper care, you should be able to keep your compressor in good working order for a long time. So if you’ve been putting off regular preventative maintenance, you should give us a call now – we can provide you with a free, Compressed Air System Safety Survey & Energy Audit. This will also quickly identify any other inefficient equipment, maintenance procedures, and give you the relevant low cost/no cost measures to reduce your energy costs – such as leak detection and repair to reduce system waste.
To ensure we can provide the highest service levels and most responsive support, our Flexible Maintenance Support Agreements are only eligible to facilities operating within 50 miles of St Ives, Cambridgeshire but don’t worry, we’ll confirm this before wasting any of your time
