The operation of an air system requires more than just an ability to turn the right switches. One of the most important aspects of the whole operation is the maintenance of the compressor and various other components, because this ensures long life and efficiency for an air system. Unfortunately, compressed air maintenance mistakes are often made by operators who’ve only familiarized themselves with the basic workings of the equipment.

In order to keep your compressed air system fully operable and efficient year–round, it’s crucial to prepare your compressor for each season. Some of the most troubling ailments in this regard include air leaks, clogged drains and dirty filtration systems.

An air compressor is capable of working under all types of weather, providing that the compressor is kept in optimal shape and the operating environment is suited to the technology. With periodic maintenance of your compressed air system and its room of operation, you could enjoy optimal performance throughout the year with minimal downtime.

One of the biggest compressed air maintenance mistakes is to underestimate or miscalculate the amount of energy that a compressor will use within the span of a year. Fact is, the price to operate a dental air compressor can equal or exceed the purchasing cost of the machine in the space of just 12 months. Most problematic in this regard is the wasteful usage of a compressed air system, which often occurs when operators are unaware of the overall energy costs.

To best assure efficiency, it’s important to accurately calculate the annual energy costs of an air compressor, and to make sure that all operating staff understand how the figure plays out on a daily basis. That way, wasteful system use can be curbed going forward.

Even though the compressor is the main component of concern within an air system, it’s not the only one in need of routine maintenance. Of equal importance during any maintenance inspection are the other components that facilitate the air supply. Chief among such components is the air receiver, which holds compressed air for times when air demands increase, and also reduces system wear and contamination.

The air receiver makes it possible to run the compressor at lower levels and conserve energy in the process. However, the air receiver won’t be able to do its job properly if it’s too small for the system, because the compressor will have to run longer than necessary to keep up with air demand. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that the air receiver is either large enough for the system, or backed with secondary receivers.