Is your compressed air installation ready for the cold weather?

Did you know cold weather can influence the condition of your compressed air installation and compressed air? Ambient temperature can have a large influence on both your compressed air installation and compressed air. In the following article we discuss what can happen to your compressed air if the ambient temperature is very low and also what you can do to prevent problems within your compressed air system due to cold weather. For further advice, get in touch with us today. We are your partners in compressed air.


What can happen if the ambient temperature is very low?

Condensation

With low ambient temperatures, the chances of condensation are very high. The moment water vapor in your compressed air installation condensated (dewpoint) is related directly to the ambient temperature. Condensation in compressed air is unwanted because it can cause big damage to piping, tools and other appliances. This can lead to breakdowns, air leakages and thus excessive costs.

Fluid in the oil

Because of cold ambient air, the operating temperature of your compressor stays low, resulting in moisture in the oil. This has negative consequences on lubrication of your machine, and may cause malfunction or breakdown.

Freezing

When temperatures are very low, compressed air piping, condensate drains and filters can freeze over. Even the aftercooler of your compressor can freeze and break down, because the freezing cold hits the cooler directly via the cooling air vent. Be sure to prevent this by putting your cooling air vent to a winter-level.

What can you do to prevent problems?

By using adsorption dryers or compressed air dryers a lot of issues with winter cold can be prevented. Ash Air can advise you on the right steps to make sure your compressed air installation is ready for the cold season.

Talk to the team today to see how we can help you minimise costs and maximise efficiency.

Contact Us

Ash Air is here for your business longevity!

Your business performance is what we strive for. Ash Air offers a full range of Chicago Pneumatic and Alup air compressors, tools and on-site solutions. We also provide oil-free compressors and food-grade oil to suit your needs. Ash Air are specialists in vacuum pumps, blowers, and medical gas solutions. Ash Air offers complete quality air solutions as well as advanced piping systems for the performance and efficiency of your compressed air system.

Do you have an idea for our #expertcorner? Let us know!

Who we are and how Ash Air can help your business!

Ash Air has been around in New Zealand since 1979, and we’ve grown into a nationwide company with international support and a reputation for quality and reliability.We look after all things compressed air for your business!

  • Reciprocating, Screw, air compressors
  • Vacuum pumps
  • Nitrogen
  • An extensive line of air treatment components

Ash Air's range of Chicago Pneumatic, Alup, Pneumatech, and Quincy compressors are used extensively around the world in industries ranging from oil and gas to food, automotive and farming, and we bring you these world class compressors here in the land of the long white cloud.Our technicians are compressed air equipment experts and are dedicated to addressing customer needs. Supported by a 13 locations nationwide, Ash Air offers one of the widest selections of compressed air equipment and parts available today in New Zealand.

Reliability and Efficiency

With Ash Air compressors, you can count on reliability and high performance for even the most demanding applications. We focus our efforts on the following:

  • Increasing uptime
  • Reducing unexpected repairs
  • Reducing energy consumption
  • Improving the cleanliness of compressed air


Talk to the team today:  CONTACT US CONTACT US

Read more from our #expertcorner


Just like any other equipment, a compressed air installation also requires the necessary maintenance work during its entire lifespan. Even though maintenance costs are only about 5 to 10% of a machine's annual operating costs, failure to budget for maintenance can have potentially disastrous consequences.


The air dyer is one of the most ignored cooler in the system. A dirty condenser will cause water in the lines, or worse it will cause complete dryer failure.


Using nitrogen is not about fully replacing CO2, but it can reduce their consumption of CO2 by close to 70%. Using nitrogen is about sustainability. Creating your own nitrogen is easy and will reduce the use of a greenhouse gas, which is better for the environment. It will also save you money as early as month one adding that savings to your bottom line.


A question that is occasionally asked by our customers to Ash Air is 'what is the cost of compressed air?'  This article looks at the product costs involved with compressed air, as well as minimising the energy cost of compressors and cost allocation. When looking at these factors, we need to realise what causes dropped efficiency of your compressor, leading to increased costs of compressed air.