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Draining compressor tank

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Draining compressor tank

#1

Draining compressor tank

Jorge Castaneda

A recent thread asked when to drain it. Yesterday I did use my portable compressor for a little over 4 hours, as I was putting it away, I did drain it as I always do, it did condense at least a pint in the lower tank and some more in the upper, the water is very murky full of rust. This compressor has valves and it is an easy job. My stationary one, has a plug and no matter how empty I think it is, invariably sends the plug out of my hands and blast the water out, very inconvenient and unsafe. I want to add a valve, any suggestions? It is an Ingersoll Rand.

Re: Draining compressor tank

#2

Re: Draining compressor tank

Doug Wolf

I use a 1/4 turn stainless steel ball valve on my 60 gal IR compressor. Works great!

Re: Draining compressor tank

#4

Re: Draining compressor tank

Keith Newton

Jorge, If there is limited space, I would start with a Street Elbow, which will have a male thread on one end, and female on the other. The male should have the same thread size as the tank. You may need a short nipple, then you can use a stainless ball valve. From there, you might want to use a hose barb, and hose that can send outside. If you were going to send it into a bucket, you may end up taking a shower.

I'd use teflon tape on all the threads.

Re: Draining compressor tank

#5

Lyle Jamieson

Re: Draining compressor tank

Lyle Jamieson

As Keith suggested use elbows and a piece of pipe to extend the valve line out to there it is easy to reach and can drain in a pan or bucket. When it is easy to drain you will do it more often and it will be less hassle.

Re: Draining compressor tank

#6

Re: Draining compressor tank

John K Jordan

Our local Ace Hardware carries valves made for this.

Re: Draining compressor tank

#7

Thank you Doug!


Re: Draining compressor tank

#8

Re: Draining compressor tank

Jorge Castaneda

Thank you Dave,

Next trip to a city I'll get everything. I don't know why I did not think this before.

Re: Draining compressor tank

#9

Re: Draining compressor tank

Jorge Castaneda

Thank you Keith,

Yes the elbow is a must and a nipple to brig the valve out and make life easier. And yes discharge to the outside is a very good idea.

Re: Draining compressor tank

#10

Thanaks Lyle, John and everybody!


Re: Draining compressor tank

#11

Re: Draining compressor tank

Tom Albrecht

I don't know what your budget is like, but I recently got an electric valve that is intended to drain a compressor automatically within various time constraints e.g. once every 30 minutes. I have my 60 gal. compressor set with an electric drain wired through a wall switch so it only operates when I switch it on at the end of each day if I have run the compressor that day.