How to conduct preventative compressor maintenance
We encourage our clients to conduct regular preventative maintenance on their air compressors. It is important to do this! Particularly during the first 7 to 8 years of the air compressor’s lifespan. After 7 or 8 years air compressors develop inefficiencies and will eventually require major repairs. Air compressors have maintenance needs that vary depending on the amount that they’re being used every day. It also varies depending on the type of compressor – rotary screw, centrifugal, reciprocating and others. Auxiliary Equipment and Cooling systems are separate from the compressor but work in tandem with it. They will also require monitoring and maintenance. Do not cut corners and try to do this yourself. If you’ve wisely purchased your air compressor from a respected brand, then it’s likely that they offer compressor maintenance services as well. The best ones will have long-term service plans. It’s worth it to deal with the manufacturer directly because their teams understand the machine the most. In between visits from the manufacturer’s service teams there are certain routine tasks you can handle. Here are our suggestions:
- Observe gauges and monitors for positive or negative indicators.
- Inspect for condensation, leaks, and vibrations. Empty out any excess fluids.
- Inspect and verify that safeguards and safety measures are in place.
- Inspect pressure relief valves, vents, pipes, hoses, belts, and motor bearings.
- Inspect the lubricant quantity and the lubricant quality.
- Clean the compressor surface, oil filters and air intake filters.
- Similarly, perform relevant inspections of the auxiliary equipment and cooling systems.
Some of these tasks are done daily and the others are done weekly. Your air compressor manual will come in handy when performing these routine checks. When the manufacturer’s service teams visit your site make sure to get their advice on how to perform preventative compressor maintenance as well.
How much compressor maintenance costs
You should anticipate an annual cost that’s between 5-10% of the compressor installation’s investment value. Compressor maintenance will be the smallest part of your installation’s total cost of ownership.
Here’s a list of things that influence your compressor maintenance budget.
- Type and size of compressors
- Auxiliary equipment (dryers, filters, control and regulation equipment)
- Operating cycle load/unload and the degree of utilization
- Installation environment conditions
- Choice of safety level
- Energy recovery/cooling systems
We encourage our clients to work out a maintenance plan because the compounded benefits of good compressor maintenance will reduce your total budget over the life span of the compressor.
As suggested earlier, purchasing the manufacturer’s service plan is a great idea. By using the compressor supplier's aftermarket services, staff, and original spare parts, you can expect your machine to maintain high operating standards. The manufacturer will also offer the possibility of introducing modifications, improvements, and upgrades, based on their experience of how the machine performs over its lifespan.
Preventative compressor maintenance is how you minimize, and even avoid, downtime over the course of a machine’s life span. You will reduce the chances of having to spend on unexpected major repairs. You will also benefit from a higher average operational efficiency and lower energy cost over time.
All these things translate to cost savings.
Conclusion
Your goal should be to get the maximum use out of your air compressor installation over its lifespan, especially during those first 7 to 8 years. If you treat your compressors well they’ll give you 10 to 15 years’ worth of good performance.
Service plans have a scope of benefits and each plan attempts to minimize your cost of ownership in some way. Atlas Copco service plans, for example, have given our customers a reported 3% improvement in energy savings. We have 5 plans on offer right now.
With the Preventative Maintenance Plan you’ll get on-time servicing by factory-trained Atlas Copco technicians, combined with the unrivalled quality of our genuine parts. And you can extend the plan for 5 years which will include parts replacement.
The Total Responsibility Plan offers preventative compressor maintenance while including proactive upgrades, improvements, and driveline overhauls. All of this for an all-inclusive price.
The Parts Plan is what you can choose if you’d rather rely on your own technicians. Our experts draw up a maintenance
schedule based on your equipment and site conditions. Each delivery of parts will trigger your technicians to perform the associated maintenance steps.
The Fixed Price Plan is exactly how it sounds. It’s a service plan tailored to your installation, site conditions, and production planning, with a clear scope and price that can be discussed at the outset. It makes your planned compressor maintenance easier and more affordable.
And the AIRPlan is our most flexible and risk free solution. You simply get the air you need while the compressed air equipment is installed, maintained, and updated by Atlas Copco for the duration of the contract. Leave buying and maintaining equipment to Atlas Copco. Pay only for the compressed air you need.
If you’d like to learn more about Atlas Copco Service Plans and the products we offer click here.
