compressor leak
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Kentucky
compressor leak
A question for all you guys that have your own compressors in your garage. My mother in law gave me an portable air compressor that belonged to my late father in law and it has sat in her garage for probably 20 years largely unused since he passed away in 1991. I used it today and it worked fine but when I unplugged and the motor noise stopped I could hear air escaping and found a very small hole in the bottom of the tank a couple of inches from the drain valve. My question is should I stop using it because of any hazard from this small hole? I intend to only use it occasionally for putting air in tires on my vehicles, mower, bikes, etc. It's small/light enough you can roll it around on its wheels but I don't know the size or the mfr since my father in law had painted over all the factory labels. It worked fine and I didn't even realize air was escaping until I had finished using it and unplugged the motor. Advice appreciated.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
The advice I have for you is: If its leaking from anything such as a hole in it, its probably rusted out. Basically its a bomb waiting to let go and harm someone/something. Picture a highly pressurized vessel that's about to split open for "any" reason and you or your kids/grandkids are standing next to it when that "any" reason happens. Salvage what you can from it then dump it, buy a new one and remember to drain the water regulary. Now just in case, there is a drain valve on the bottom of it for this exact purpose, draining water... could that be where its leaking from or is leaking from a worn through hole type location?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Kentucky
Thanks for your response. It does have a visible hole in the bottom a couple of inches from the drain petcock and I can hear, feel air escaping through a very small but visible hole in the tank.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,731
Likes: 82
From: New Market AL
My friend had a shop air compressor tank rupture, and it was amazing how much damage 120 psi can cause when it is released suddenly. It's time to retire that tank. If the compressor and motor are still good you could probably fine another tank for not too much money.
