Q:

I’ve just bought a compressor. Is it OK to leave the tank under pressure between uses?

Declan Langdale, Macclenny, FL

A:

I spoke with Dough Schlefke, the National Service Manager for Rolair Compressors. He advised emptying and draining your tank after every use. When the compressor pulls air into the tank, it’s also pulling in the moisture in the air. If you don’t drain the tank, the moisture builds up and can rust the inside of the tank, which decreases its life. You might be tempted to drain the tank only partially, because that initial burst of air exiting the drain valve seems to get rid of the water, but resist the temptation. The compressed air still in the tank has more moisture than the air outside, so drain it completely.

Moisture is enemy number one. Left inside, it causes rust and that can lead to holes in the tank. The solution is to drain the compressed air completely from the tank after every use.

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