How to Maintain the Dew Point to Avoid Costly Air Compressor Repair

If you find yourself having to call for costly air compressor repairs more often than usual, you may have to check on other areas of your air compressor to ensure you are not missing out on maintaining crucial areas. One thing you must have missed is the condensation that occurs in your compressed air system. It is important to understand the concept of dew points and why it matters for compressed air. 

Dew point refers to the temperature at which water vapour in the air starts to condense into its liquid form. It is a measure of how much moisture is in the air. When the dew point becomes too high, it means that you will also have a lot of moisture in the air inside the compression system.

To avoid unnecessary air compressor repair, you need to keep an eye on dew points.

With increased condensation and water present in your compressed air lines, corrosion can happen inside the machine itself. Aside from this, here are the other issues that your compressor may experience:

• Pneumatic tools and equipment powered by compressed air will be corroded
• Issues with the quality of the product, such as in the case of food and medicines that are sensitive to moisture
• Growth of microbes in the lines
• There is a high risk of freezing in the lines, causing damage
• Affects the readings produced by control programs and instruments

It is clear how important it is for you to consider your compressed air system’s dew point. Standard dew points for most air compressor systems range from 50°F to 94°F. A dew point monitor would be helpful to tell you the current dew point level of your system. Generally, for most applications, maintaining a relative humidity of 75% or lower relative to the dew point of your air compression system will be sufficient to keep air lines free. By following these steps, you can be sure to avoid unnecessary air compressor repairs and keep your machines in good shape.