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Why Air Compressor Not Working? Common Problems Discussed

by Ivan Sanchez | Last Updated December 26, 2021

Why Air Compressor Not WorkingIn today’s age, most people own cars and other such machinery, whether old or new to help them get through their day-to-day lives.

As most car owners know, each car component must be taken care of with sufficient time put towards the car’s maintenance.

Most people prefer to take their cars to the mechanic shop for a monthly checkup to make sure everything is in working order,

But sometimes people tend to take matters into their own hands if they have sufficient knowledge about their cars.

Most family homes keep tools in the garage if matters for car or appliance maintenance are involved.

One such tool is an air compressor, which can be used to inflate tires or supply proper air to appliances such as refrigerators.

These aren’t their only uses as they can be found anywhere from industries to auto repair shops to farms.

Like all pneumatic and mechanical appliances, you might run into trouble while using these for any of the uses mentioned above.

Common Problems that arise with Air Compressors

All powered appliances have to meet their maker one day, as they may run into mechanical difficulties that make the appliance’s job difficult.

Air compressors are not exempted from this category and may run into the following problems:

  1. Air leaks are the biggest issues one can run into while handling an air compressor.
  2. An insufficient electrical power supply can also cause your air compressor to face problems in functioning normally.
  3. Oil leaks inside the air tank are also a highly dangerous problem that occur in air compressors.
  4. Broken parts may play a vital role in keeping your air compressor from functioning properly.
  5. Lack of sufficient air in the air compressor may also create difficulties in your compressors’ functioning.

Take a close look at your air compressor and examine every nook and cranny of it while keeping it powered off to locate the source and the cause of the problem.

If you can locate any of the above issues in your air, fixing the problems yourself should be quite simple.

However, most would recommend taking the air compressor to a mechanic from the company that built it.

In case of air leaks

If you find that the air compressor gauge seems to be dropping even if you have it deactivated, it could be an air leak, and it may cause a few problems in the way of your air compressor.

These problems include leak repairs and the wasting of compressed air that does not come cheap.

First, you must locate the source of the leak and track down the part where the leak is damaged while keeping safety precautions in mind.

As all sorts of chemicals from diesel and petrol can be lurking in the compressed air, it is important to keep your eyes, ears, and skin safe.

If the leak is inaudible, you can locate the source of the air leak using soap by placing it all around the connectors and seeing if it bubbles.

Wherever it bubbles is where the leak is located. If the leak is around the connectors, make sure to screw the parts tightly with a wrench.

In case of insufficient power supply

Sometimes your air compressor may not be getting the power it needs from your power source, which can hinder its ability to function.

In these cases, consider finding a different power cable and attaching it to a different outlet or consider investing in an external battery.

Using a circuit breaker, you may be able to power enough electricity to your air compressor by channeling it into a particular power outlet.

In case of oil leaks

If oil meets the compressed air inside the tank and manages to slip inside the air lines, it can be extremely dangerous as the two are flammable and, when mixed, can cause an explosion.

It is important to dismantle the air compressor and clean it thoroughly immediately.

This is because of the swelling characteristics of oil and plastic when mixed and can cause the tank to swell and ultimately erupt.

In case of broken parts

Keeping every part of the air compressor in working order is vital to ensure its proper functioning and avoid dangerous risks.

Consider thoroughly checking your air compressor parts and see if any rustic bits need replacing.

In case of lack of air

If your air compressor does not have sufficient air to fill the pressure within the tank, it can cause many difficulties in the way of damaging your air compressor.

It is important to keep a steady flow of air in and out of your air compressor.

Filed Under: Guides

About Ivan Sanchez

Ivan Sanchez is a passionate blogger, traveler and certified Mechanic and moreover owns a Mechanic Shop in Norway too. He loves Painting Cars, Fixing them and a lot more. His father had a shop too where he used to sell Air Compressors, that's where Ivan learned about it and now reviewing some top-notch air compressors through this blog for you.

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