Air Compressors hate cold weather, so here's what to do to stop your air compressor freezing up!
Preparing your compressor for the winter season
While you can always take advantage of our 24/7 call out service, it’s more cost effective – and less stressful – to prepare your system in advance to stop your air compressor freezing up! Time spent checking potential issues could save you trouble later, and if you want some expert advice, contact the Cambs Compressor team and we’ll be happy to schedule in a winter service and check up. The service will cover all of your compressed air and associated equipment.
How low temperatures affect your system (and how to protect your system this winter)
One of your compressors biggest enemies is moisture. Check the compressor for moisture and ice build-up daily before you power up the system. Frozen water expands and could crack tubes and valves, but monitor your oil as well. Cold oil thickens and can’t lubricate mechanical processes like it should, causing more extensive wear.
Problems start when the temperature falls below 5C
Inspect your drains and filters, clear them of any obstructions. The main job of a condensate drain is to release the unwanted water out of specific equipment, whether air compressor, air receiver, dryer and or filter. The challenge is that not all compressors have them or if they are installed, they are often located out of sight.
Visit our website www.cambscompressors.co.uk/winter or call Cambs Compressors for a professionals guide to ‘Preparing your compressor for winter’.
Three tips to stop your air compressor freezing up?
Air Compressor Condensate will freeze
As temperatures drop, problems can occur because low temperatures cause several issues with the fluids within the compressor itself and also to the condensate created, when air is compressed and then cooled. Condensate is a mix of (99%) water and (1%) oil.
Condensate tends to collect at low points within the compressed air system. These include, the compressor, separators, receivers, filters and dryers as well as in low points in the compressed air pipework. If temperatures fall low enough this condensate will freeze, blocking pipes or voids within the compressor, dryers, filters and pipework. If there is frozen condensate in the pipework, this can get blown to the downstream, causing damage to the equipment the compressed air system services.
Oil gets thicker in the Air Compressor
Oil tends to get thicker when it is cold, if the oil is aged or of poor quality it may become too viscous. The thicker oil may prevent the compressor from turning freely. This may lead to the electrical system tripping since the electrical load is increased. What's more, if the compressor is not serviced correctly, it is possible that the oil will contain a high level of water which can freeze, causing issues for the compressor at start up or causing damage to the compressor internals.
Air Compressor Dryers and Filters
Dryers and filters built into your compressed air system remove water from the compressed air and prevent any water present from freezing in the downstream pipework and equipment. So keeping your dryers and filters working effectively is important but refrigerated dryers only work effectively at ambient temperatures above 5°C. To protect the rest of your compressed air system, if you have an unheated compressor room you could install heating to help protect your dryer and the rest of your compressed air system. Trace heating and lagging on outside pipe runs will also stop any condensate from freezing within the pipes.
Can you install an ambient heater?
If you want to ensure your facility continues to function as it should during the winter, it’s vital to protect your industrial air compressor from extreme seasonal temperatures. You can use an ambient heater, to ensure the temperature is just above the minimum to safeguard the compressor from wear on the motor and lower the possibility of system failure.
You might not have as many issues if you run your system around the clock, versus operating it only on weekdays. Operating only on weekdays could lead to problems on Monday morning if the temperature drops over the weekend and the system isn’t running to create its own heat.
Call Cambs for a professionals guide to ‘Preparing your compressor for winter’
If you’re running compressed air equipment when the ambient temperature drops near or below freezing, you should be carrying out these simple checks to make sure your production is protected to avoid expensive and unnecessary repair bills. If you have any concerns, it is probably more cost effective and less risky, to have a professional engineer carry out your winter maintenance review. The engineer will provide you with a quick checklist and show you what you can do to mitigate the impact low temperatures have on your system.
During office hours (08:00 to 17:00 Mondays to Fridays)
Call: 0800 002 9601
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Out of office hours (all other days/nights and bank holidays)
Call or text: 07774 216495
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