tmassey
Contributor
What do you consider the minimum temperature that is reasonable to run your compressor?
When I bought my compressor, a couple people gave me the advice to run the compressor for at least one continuous hour, at least once a month. I haven’t always done it, but I usually can. The tricky part is, I live in the Great White North, and my compressor is in an unheated and uninsulated structure.
Fortunately, while it’s cold here, it’s not always freezing cold all the time. Even in the winter, we’ll have brief periods where we might hit above freezing.
I figure running the compressor below freezing is an absolute no, just because I don’t want things like condensate drains to be frozen. But there are other things to worry about: effectiveness of lubrication in cold weather, increased viscosity, etc. So, that’s what has led me to my question.
Thoughts?
ETA: I’ve been asked why run it regularly. The reasons I was given include: 1) Like most moving equipment, they last longer and run better when they don’t sit for extended periods. 2) Specifically, running the compressor once a month keeps things moving and lubricated and rust-free. 3) Running for at least an hour helps drive out the moisture from the oil by keeping it at an elevated temperature; running for less than an hour would not do so sufficiently.
That’s what I was told, by people who work on high-pressure compressors. And it doesn’t cost me much to do, so I try to do it!
When I bought my compressor, a couple people gave me the advice to run the compressor for at least one continuous hour, at least once a month. I haven’t always done it, but I usually can. The tricky part is, I live in the Great White North, and my compressor is in an unheated and uninsulated structure.
Fortunately, while it’s cold here, it’s not always freezing cold all the time. Even in the winter, we’ll have brief periods where we might hit above freezing.
I figure running the compressor below freezing is an absolute no, just because I don’t want things like condensate drains to be frozen. But there are other things to worry about: effectiveness of lubrication in cold weather, increased viscosity, etc. So, that’s what has led me to my question.
Thoughts?
ETA: I’ve been asked why run it regularly. The reasons I was given include: 1) Like most moving equipment, they last longer and run better when they don’t sit for extended periods. 2) Specifically, running the compressor once a month keeps things moving and lubricated and rust-free. 3) Running for at least an hour helps drive out the moisture from the oil by keeping it at an elevated temperature; running for less than an hour would not do so sufficiently.
That’s what I was told, by people who work on high-pressure compressors. And it doesn’t cost me much to do, so I try to do it!
) I don’t think I’d want to operate it at -15C any more than I would want to operate it at 230C, but it seems the manufacturer thinks it can go a little lower.
