If you run a compressor powered roof pump you should definitely "drain daily" as instructed to do so by the manufacturer. Especially in humid weather and also when using wheelbarrow compressors with small tanks. ALOT of water builds up in the tanks in a short period of time in humid weather. The more water in the tank the less volume of air there is and therefore the compressor will work harder and trying to keep up due to less reserve air supply.
Draining daily can be a pain though with the little pet****(s) that can be hard to get to.
Here is what I do:
On my wheelbarrow compressor I remove the pet****s and "T" the two tanks together and run a hose to an easy accessible spot on the compressor, in my case towards the front near the tire,..there's a little "bumper" bar there. On this hose i put on a metal ball valve and attach it to the little "bumper" bar.
Now, when you need to drain daily you can just open the valve and empty the tank of water. There is no need for the "drain" to be on the bottom of the tank. The compressed air will push it through the hose just fine.
Jeff
Looks like it won't let me type "petcok"
-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Tuesday 7th of January 2014 09:47:20 AM
Art O said
Jan 7, 2014
Thanks for sharing Jeff, Good tip!
Jeff Wible said
Jan 7, 2014
Hey Art, just wanna earn my keep!
Jeff
Liberty SoftWash said
Jan 7, 2014
Great tip! We also run 2 moisture traps before the pump.
Jeff Wible said
Jan 7, 2014
Hey Eric, yea, two water traps is a good idea. The other thing that is overlooked on compressors is the air filter on the compressor itself. I remember a few years ago I though the compressor was bad and was going to replace it. Long story short, it was the filter,..it was dirty and it wasn't allowing much air to build up in the tanks,...took forever to pressurize and trip the throttle back.
Gets changed every year now.
Jeff
Doug Rucker said
Aug 23, 2014
Jeff, thanks for this tip, did both our compressors, although slightly different, and is so much easier.
Jeff Wible said
Aug 23, 2014
Good to hear Doug,.the thing is,..when something is easier it is most likely done on a regular basis,..and there is usually benefits when recommended procedure is done,..no matter what the case.
Kinda like the oil drain for small engines. I changed the oil in my Honda GX630 the other day,..and I wanted to install one of those ball valve kits,.looked everywhere, no one had them. So, I have to order one,..will install it next oil change. Anyone have any tricks for making your own,..considering the plug is metric,...and around here metric ball valves are non-existent. I need to search online I guess,..(Gee what a novel idea)....
I use a one of those siphon pumps on my pump and gearbox,..but didn't think I could get the hose in right to empty it properly on the Honda by having to go down through the dipstick tube. The fill "spot" has obstruction.
Jeff
Art O said
Aug 23, 2014
Jeff Wible wrote:
Good to hear Doug,.the thing is,..when something is easier it is most likely done on a regular basis,..and there is usually benefits when recommended procedure is done,..no matter what the case.
Kinda like the oil drain for small engines. I changed the oil in my Honda GX630 the other day,..and I wanted to install one of those ball valve kits,.looked everywhere, no one had them. So, I have to order one,..will install it next oil change. Anyone have any tricks for making your own,..considering the plug is metric,...and around here metric ball valves are non-existent. I need to search online I guess,..(Gee what a novel idea)....
I use a one of those siphon pumps on my pump and gearbox,..but didn't think I could get the hose in right to empty it properly on the Honda by having to go down through the dipstick tube. The fill "spot" has obstruction.
Jeff
Jeff try Jacks small engine repair
Jeff Wible said
Aug 23, 2014
Thanks Art,.I'll check it out.
Jeff
Art O said
Aug 23, 2014
Jeff Wible wrote:
Thanks Art,.I'll check it out.
Jeff
Russ may carry it also.
Eric Schnaible said
Aug 23, 2014
Jeff,I thought for some reason you ran low voltage pumps.
Jeff Wible said
Aug 23, 2014
Hey Eric, not sure where you got that from,...but I have never discussed personal experience using 12V pumps,..if that's what you mean by low voltage pumps?
For roof cleaning I started with pump sprayers, then roller pumps and then/now air.
If you run a compressor powered roof pump you should definitely "drain daily" as instructed to do so by the manufacturer. Especially in humid weather and also when using wheelbarrow compressors with small tanks. ALOT of water builds up in the tanks in a short period of time in humid weather. The more water in the tank the less volume of air there is and therefore the compressor will work harder and trying to keep up due to less reserve air supply.
Draining daily can be a pain though with the little pet****(s) that can be hard to get to.
Here is what I do:
On my wheelbarrow compressor I remove the pet****s and "T" the two tanks together and run a hose to an easy accessible spot on the compressor, in my case towards the front near the tire,..there's a little "bumper" bar there. On this hose i put on a metal ball valve and attach it to the little "bumper" bar.
Now, when you need to drain daily you can just open the valve and empty the tank of water. There is no need for the "drain" to be on the bottom of the tank. The compressed air will push it through the hose just fine.
Jeff
Looks like it won't let me type "petcok"
-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Tuesday 7th of January 2014 09:47:20 AM
Jeff
Gets changed every year now.
Jeff
Kinda like the oil drain for small engines. I changed the oil in my Honda GX630 the other day,..and I wanted to install one of those ball valve kits,.looked everywhere, no one had them. So, I have to order one,..will install it next oil change. Anyone have any tricks for making your own,..considering the plug is metric,...and around here metric ball valves are non-existent. I need to search online I guess,..(Gee what a novel idea)....
I use a one of those siphon pumps on my pump and gearbox,..but didn't think I could get the hose in right to empty it properly on the Honda by having to go down through the dipstick tube. The fill "spot" has obstruction.
Jeff
Jeff try Jacks small engine repair
Jeff
Russ may carry it also.
For roof cleaning I started with pump sprayers, then roller pumps and then/now air.
Jeff