
What happens if the air compressor is not used for a long time?
If the air compressor is idle for a long time, its performance and service life will be affected in multiple ways, as follows:
1. Degradation of mechanical systems
- lubrication failure: Lubricating oil will gradually precipitate when it is still, causing oil passage to be blocked, and moving parts such as bearings and gears will be accelerated due to insufficient lubrication.
- metal corrosion: Moisture in the air will condense inside the equipment and cause oxidation reactions after coming into contact with metal parts, forming rust, especially affecting key parts such as cylinders and pipes.
- Part stuck: Long-term standstill may cause starting stagnation of pistons, connecting rods and other parts due to drying up or rusting of lubricating oil.
2. Reduced sealing performance
- Aging of seals: Rubber sealing rings, O-rings and other parts will harden and crack under long-term static conditions and possible environmental temperature changes, resulting in compressed air leakage.
- Valve plate failure: The valve discs of the intake valve and exhaust valve may be deformed due to long-term standstill, affecting the sealing effect, causing pressure to build slowly or failing to reach the rated pressure.
3. Hidden dangers in the electrical system
- Component moisture: In a humid environment, electrical components such as contactors and relays in the control cabinet may degrade due to moisture, causing short circuits or poor contacts.
- aging of the line: Long-term idleness will accelerate the aging of the insulation layers of cables and terminals and increase the risk of leakage.
4. Reduction of energy efficiency and reliability
- difficulty in starting: After a long-term shutdown, the motor may be overloaded or even unable to start due to insufficient lubrication, stuck parts and other reasons during the first start.
- increased energy consumption: Rust and sealing failure will lead to increased equipment operating resistance, reduced compression efficiency, and increased energy consumption.
5. Maintenance recommendations
- Regular commissioning: Start at least once a month and run for more than 30 minutes each time to keep parts lubricated and prevent corrosion.
- Oil replacement: The lubricating oil should be replaced with new oil before long-term shutdown. When it is restarted, it needs to be replaced again and the oil circuit should be cleaned.
- seal inspection: Inspect all seals before re-activation and replace aging or deformed parts.
- electrical detection: Check the insulation performance of electrical components before use, clean up the dust in the control cabinet, and ensure that the wiring is firm.
Through the above measures, the negative impact caused by long-term idle use of air compressors can be effectively alleviated, the service life of the equipment can be extended, and stable performance can be ensured when it is put into use again.