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How to perform air compressor maintenance

Maintaining your air compressor at optimal performance will slow down the development of inefficiencies and extend the life of your equipment.

January 31, 2025

Air compressor maintenance is crucial for optimal performance and avoiding premature repairs. Regular inspections and servicing of key components are essential, especially for rotary screw air compressors. Timely maintenance prevents minor issues from becoming major problems.
Atlas Copco is here to help from simple maintenance tips, a maintenance checklist till a complete service plan that fits your needs.

Air compressor maintenance tips

air compressor maintenance
  • Read the user manual
    It is highly recommended that you read the user manual before you take any further steps. Always follow the instructions and follow the safety guidelines. In case of doubt, contact Atlas Copco

  • Use Genuine spare parts
    Each component of your compressor is vital for its overall performance, giving you the reliability, long lifetime and energy efficiency you expect. That’s why every Genuine part and lubricant is expertly designed, manufactured and tested according to the most stringent standards
    To keep your compressor in good shape Atlas Copco’s genuine parts are the way to go.

  • Regular Inspections
    Air compressor systems have a series of processes that rely on one another to provide the desired performance. It comprises various components which must be maintained to ensure consistent proper functioning. It is considered best practice if you maintain a timely schedule for regular periodic inspections of your compressor to ensure that all its components are in optimal condition.

  • Have an issue? Check the troubleshooting guide
    To minimize downtime, it's essential to have a solid understanding of common air compressor problems and how to resolve them quickly. A reliable air compressor troubleshooting guide can get you back up and running.

Air compressor maintenance checklist

  • Drain Compressed air moisture 
    Compressed air moisture is an inevitable byproduct that accumulates inside the air receiver tank in the form of condensate. Moisture also degrades the quality of output of industrial applications that the compressed air system is being used for. You need to make sure that you drain the air receiver tanks properly and from time to time for ensuring optimal performance and avoiding any damage. Another option is to have an automatic drain installed on the compressor.

  • Change the air filters
    The filter in an air compressor traps a lot of junk particles throughout the usage cycles. Air filters are designed to have a heavy load of particles, but it eventually reaches their peak. To keep a clean filter is to ensure that your air compressor performance does not degrade over a period of time. It is a good practice to keep a consistent check over the air filters and change them annually or if sandstorm conditions occur before the annual change.

  • Change the lubricant
    Oil-based air compressors need to be tended with care and the lubricant must be changed periodically to keep your compressor operating reliably and cost-effectively.Compressor oil protects rotating parts to avoid metal-to-metal contact. It absorbs the heat to ensure optimal working temperatures. It seals the clearances between the rotors and the housing, preventing air backflow and reduced output. Always ensure that the oil levels are maintained to the correct level

  • Replace the oil separator elements
    Oil-lubricated air compressors rely on oil mist that helps smooth functioning. The compressors disperse oil within the machine in tandem with the air. However, before final delivery, the oil gets extracted from the air with an oil separator. Over continuous use and delivery, the air can get contaminated with oil if the oil-separator starts malfunctioning. It is imperative that you regularly inspect and change if required the separator elements for an optimally performing air compressor and to guarantee the quality of the compressed air output.

  • Replace the oil filter
    The oil filter captures dust, deposits and other foreign particles, ensuring a clean oil flow to the compressor element. Apart from protecting the bearings and other mechanical components, it prevents premature clogging of the air/oil separator. Timely replacement is needed.

Air compressor maintenance plan

With the service plans offered by Atlas Copco, your machine will maintain high operating standards. Regardless of the service level you opt for, our expertise streamlines the process, ensuring accurate timing for maintenance and swift procurement of the necessary components, all without any hassle.

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