Air Compressor Service and Backup Air Compressors

03/14/2017
by Matt Mazanec

It's time to perform scheduled preventative matinenance service (sometimes referred to as "PM") on your air compressor system. This brings forward a number of common questions: What does this mean for your business? Will there be downtime involved? How long will it last?

During preventative maintenance, there are a number of variables that determine the length of downtime and options to avoid it entirely. 

  • "Typical” maintenance on a compressor less than 50 horsepower, will range between 2 and 6 hours on-site.
    • Includes air filter, belt changes, and complete oil changes
    • Requires inspection of equipment, inspection of electrical connections
    • Inline filtration elements are changes in addition to oil/water separator elements
    • Other inspection actions may happen depending on the inspection*
  • Units producing more than 50 horsepower or with multiple units can take more than 4 hours to maintenance 

*This may include checking the system as a whole to identify possible issues that can be document and brought to the attention of a manager prior to a quote for repair. 

As a general rule of thumb, downtime can range from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the system. This reinforces an important piece of advice: Having a reliable backup air compressor to take over during preventative maintenance helps eliminate downtime entirely.


Is having a backup air compressor worth it? 

Quick answer: YES. Having a backup compressor is one of the best decisions you can make if your business depends on air. Whether you are a large production plant with dozens of machines or you work from a home garage, your need for constant air flow is vital to keeping production going. 

  • Backup compressors eliminate having downtime with your air
  • Operating multiple machines in tandem will evenly distribute working hours
    • Wear and tear will be minimized
    • Preventative maintanence expenses will be limited
  • Scheduled preventative maintenance services for both compressors can be worked on during the same visit

Many times obtaining a backup compressor does not mean making an additional high-value purchase, but rather retaining an older model that is still in working function.


Still have questions?

We have a team of air compression experts ready to answer any lingering questions you might have about maintaining your current unit or finding the best solution moving forward. You can reach us during regular business hours (Eastern Standard Time) by calling 866.778.6572 or send an email to info@compressorworld.com