Winterizing Air Compressors in Cleveland, OH Manufacturing

Winterizing air compressors in Cleveland, OH manufacturing is important to keep your production moving and winters in Cleveland and the surrounding areas, don’t mess around. With lake effect snow, temperatures swings, and below freezing mornings, your compressed air system can take a toll real fast if it’s not in a stable environment and well maintained. If your air compressors go down, not only it become an issue, but it can slow down production line, pneumatic tools underperform, and maintenance costs will bring in uptick.

Here’s a friendly guide how to winterize air compressors in Cleveland, OH manufacturing whether you run a small shop or an industrial facility.

Air Compressors in Cleveland

Here are a few factors on how cold weather impacts air compressors:

Moisture and freezing – cold air in the winter hold less moisture, but your air compressor can still create condensation. If drains, lines, or dryer components freezes, you will get pressure drops, wet air at the point of use, or a full system shutdown.

Viscosity changes – Lubricants can thicken up during cold winter months.

Condensation swings – When warm compressed air hits cold piping, moisture can freeze up. Especially in facilities with unheated areas, dock-doors, or long outdoor runs.

Start With a Winter Readiness Audit

Before the first deep freeze, you would need to do a system review:

• Walk the air line route and you would need to identify unheated zones like ceilings, near exterior walls, docks, and warehouse extensions.
• Note any outdoor piping, hose reels, filters, drains, and receivers in cold areas.
• Check if your air compressor room is truly conditioned. Not just for only indoors environment.

Verify Your Air Dryer Can Handle Cleveland Winter Conditions

Your compressed air dryer is important to keep maintained throughout the winter conditions. Here are a couple of examples of air dryers on what you should look out for:

Refrigerated dryers – Many manufacturers use refrigerated dryers for their production cycle.

• These refrigerated air dryers don’t like to be in freezing zones/spaces.
• High moisture mood swings when air demand spikes.
• Condensers can overheat too efficiently; it causes disruption of the refrigeration cycle.

Desiccant dryers – It’s great for removing moisture from compressed air and gases, but you will need to confirm the requirements of:

• Adjusting the airflow settings and valve operations.
• Replacing desiccant on preventative maintenance schedule.
• Inspect air filters intake. Usually, oil carryovers that can ruin desiccant quickly.

Here’s a tip for you about air dryers: Whatever dryer type you’re using, you would need to confirm the dew point you need for your type of application. Over drying can waste energy, and under drying can create frozen lines.

Protecting Condensate Drains

Automatic drains are top freeze point in the winter especially:

• At the receiver tank.
• Aftercoolers/heat exchangers.
• Dryer separators.
• Drip legs and low points.

Here are some preventative maintenances to protect your air compressor system:

• Adding heat trace, relocating them, or installing cold weather-related drains for your air compressor system.
• Insulate exposed drain lines and discharge tubing.
• Set a winter maintenance schedule to check on the drains. Here’s a helpful hint, you can have a log document near your air compressor room.

Insulate and Heat Trace Vulnerable Piping

• It’s important to insulate cold-zone piping.
• Add a heat trace where freezing is likely to happen.
• Maintain proper slopes toward drip legs and drains.

Check Your Compressor Room Conditions

• The room can dip near freezing overnight/weekends.
• Louvers create cold air drafts that go directly on the air equipment.

Air Compressor Room Preparations:

• Maintain a stable compressor room temperature around 50-70◦F depending on the ventilation design.
• You would need to confirm that air isn’t pulling from moist air from moisture areas.

Change Oil and Confirm Start-Ups on a New Week

For lubricated rotary screw air compressor and piston units, winter is a great time to verify:

• Oil-type matches the manufacturer’s recommendation for your ambient conditions.
• Filters are not near end-of-life.
• The compressor isn’t starting.

Cold-thickened oil can lead to:

• It can increase power on startups.
• Slow lubrication at critical points.
• More wear and tear on your unit.

If your operations/facility shuts down over the weekend, pay attention on Monday mornings. Those rough starts are your first clue.

Air Compressor in Cleveland Winterization Checklist for Manufacturing

A weekly preventative checklist prevents winter surprises:

• Check dryer status and dew points.
• Verify all automatic drains are cycling properly.
• Drain manual points.
• Inspect cold zone piping for sweating and freezing signs.
• Confirm air compressor room temperature and ventilation.
• Review compressor runtime/cycle.
• Walk around the facility and see any new air leaks.

If you’re seeing any of these signs, then it’s time bring in our certified air compressor specialist to do an audit.