What Is Air Compressor Maintenance?
Some may be surprised to hear there are many different types of air compressors. What type you see—axial compressor, centrifugal compressor, rotary screw compressor, reciprocating air compressor, scroll compressor, oil-flooded compressor, oil-free compressor—will depend on what type of job needs doing and what industry it needs doing in. They are all pneumatic tools that need regular inspections. Based on the air compressor inspection checklist, engineers and safety officers carry out preventive maintenance at regular intervals to ensure the reliable and optimum operation of the machines.
Air compressor preventive maintenance presents some challenges, but if it is not done regularly, the consequences can be costly. After all, anyone who ever worked a day in their life would much rather pay $20 to replace the oil rather than $4,000 for a new engine. With cars, it’s always a no-brainer. So why would it be any different for any other machine you own? To boot, air compressors are smaller with smaller repairs and smaller replacement fees, so there’s no reason why maintenance shouldn’t be done routinely.
This article informs about:
1. Reasons for routine air compressor maintenance
2. Advantages of compressor maintenance checklist
3. A technological solution for digital maintenance
What are the Main Reasons for Performing Routine Maintenance on Air Compressors?
There are various types of air compressors on the market—single-stage, two-stage, piston type, oil, oilless, pressure, or without—and which one you used depends on where you are and what you’re doing, but all of them require regular maintenance to ensure efficient power distribution. For example, air tools should be oiled regularly. Non-lubricated tools wear out many times faster and even generate less power as a result. The importance of regular maintenance of air compressors is listed below:
1. Check Compressor Leakage During Regular Maintenance
- Drop in performance
- Increased wear of the compressor due to increased running time
- Shorter service life
2. Importance of Regular Compressor Maintenance
- Risk of rusting in the pressure vessel due to water accumulation
- Less storage volume in the pressure vessel
- Insufficient oil in the compressor can lead to increased wear or to system wide failure
What Are the Advantages of Compressor Maintenance?
Below are the 3 main reasons for predictive maintenance on compressors:
1. Maintaining Efficiency
As expected, air compressors should operate at optimum levels within their running time. Routine compressor maintenance by engineers helps identify problems early on that can lead to inefficiencies, such as low compressor capacity or long-running time caused by possible leaks in safety or suction valves.
2. Ensure Safety
depending on the type of compressor, an uncontrolled operation can lead to an accumulation of condensation which, in turn, causes internal corrosion and weakens the system, and can even lead to unexpected explosions. Blocked components or lack of ventilation can cause air compressors to overheat. An air compressor safety inspection checklist can help safety officers proactively identify problems and keep workers out of the hospital.
3. Ensuring Compliance
International standards such as ISO 45001 for health and safety at work, by law, require proof of equipment maintenance. Regular compressor maintenance and digital documentation enables companies to comply with international safety standards.
A Digital Solution to Maintaining Air Compressors
An air compressor maintenance checklist contributes to the efficient and safe operation of plants. However, the proper documentation of maintenance results is sometimes neglected or not done regularly. With Lumiform, you’ll find free digital maintenance templates. Plus, the mobile and powerful inspection application will help you overcome these and other challenges:
Individual Digital Forms
The flexible form construction kit makes it possible to create new individual checklists at any time and adapt them again and again.
First Class Customer Service
Lumiform’s excellent 24/5 support will reliably answer all your app-related questions whenever you need assistance using the tool.
Scheduling and Notifications
The Lumiform App ensures that schedules are kept. All employees receive notifications about upcoming procedures and due dates. Managers automatically receive notifications when assignments are overdue and problems arise.
Time-Defined Work Steps
Keep an eye on your schedule and use the information to identify opportunities to increase your efficiency.
Faster Identification and Resolution of Problems
The data you collect from your inspections are collected under the Analysis Tab. Here, you can access all data and view your performance reports broken down by time, location, and department. This helps you quickly identify the root cause of a problem, so you can fix them as quickly as possible.
Track Inspections in Facilities Over Time
Monitor your team’s inspection performance and identify opportunities to improve the process and organize your operations.
Integrations
Connect Lumiform’s Software to enterprise software systems.
Time-Defined Targets
Keep an eye on what’s happening to identify insight to increase your efficiency.
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