Where Should I Install my Air Dryer?

Why shouldn't you store it on your air compressor?

Your company purchased an air dryer for your compressor, now where should you install it? One of the most common things we see in the industry are air dryers being stored on top of the compressors. Seems like a wasted space not being used on top of the compressor, right? Wrong.


Below are a few reasons why you shouldn't store your air dryer on your compressor and installation suggestions to help extend the life of your dryer.

β€’   Vibration: Even the healthiest and most robust air compressors will not be free of vibrations. By placing the air dryer on top of the compressor, the dryer will be absorbing those vibrations. Overtime, the air dryer will begin to show those effects.

β€’   Compressor Serviceability When your air dryer is set up on top of your enclosed air compressor, you will have to unassemble the dryer to get into your air compressor. That means, more labor time from your technician to just get into the compressor.

β€’   Temperature More often than not, air compressors are designed to exhaust the after cooler out from the top of the machine. This creates a higher ambient temperature around the top of the air compressor, which is exactly where the dryer would sit. The dryer needs cooler air across the heat exchanger to work efficiently and drop the most moisture out of the air. If the hot air from the air compressor is being exhausted into the same ambient air that the dryer is using, the cool air passing through the heat exchanger, the dryer will now be less efficient and create moisture issues.

β€’   Moisture The key reason you get a dryer is to remove moisture from the air. That moisture is removed via a drain usually located at the back of the dryer. Now let's say that drain shifts and leaks directly on the compressor instead? Seems like a headache.

Why Do you Need a Dryer?

 Air dryers remove the moisture following the compressed air process. Dry compressed air is a concept with a wide range of meanings and dew point is an indication of how dry the compressed air is or needs to be. While air can be compressed, water cannot be compressed.


Installation Suggestions & Tips:

Now that you confidently know that your air dryer should not be store on your air compressor, here are a few helpful suggestions when installing.

Never place your Dryer on the Floor: Avoid placing it directly on the floor. The floor is often filled with dirt, debris and dust that your air dryer will pull air directly from. One of the most common reasons a dryer shuts down is due to a dirty environment.

Consider a Shelf For your Air Dryer: Save yourself the headache and build (or buy) a stand to place your dryer on.

Give the Dryer It's Own Space: Air Dryers are designed to have certain clearances around them to allow cooler ambient air for head dissipation.


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?'Β  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. …


You may have great fall protection measures in place to keep employees safe when working at height, but what about their co-workers below? Dropped tools and other falling objects are a major hazard – and one that isn’t always fully addressed.Β  …


Providing a safe working environment for operators is essential, especially when using pneumatic tools and compressed air. If there is a failure in the air network and the hose is not adequately clamped, the resulting whiplash could be devastating. Failure to follow best practice can result in injuries, associated production downtime and decreased productivity. …


A common questions asked is why do I need an air dryer for my compressor? Typically, air compressors produce water, and although the water can be drained, there can still be aerosol and vapour droplets that are present. This is because water cannoet be compressed. Water can damage your compressor by corroding the valves, pipes and machinery controls, which will cost you time and money to resolve. In the long run, the cost of a new compressor is a small price to pay compared to the loss of production that could potentially arise due to water damage in your compressor.





…


Air compressors can fail for an assortment of different reasons: Normal wear and tear, lifespan and age of the unit, poor maintenance, power surge, install issues are just a few the come to mind. Check out this blog to find out our top 7 tips to ensure your compressor is looked after!  …


That cold, rainy, and in some places icey New Zealand winter is upon us, and with the following air compressor tips, your air system will be prepared with the preferred temperatures, despite the weather outside. Regardless of whether or not it actually snows or freezes up where you live, most winterisation service recommendations are also basic, solid maintenance procedures that will help extend the life and operational efficiencies of air compressors regardless of whether you live in Queenstown or Northland. …

Show More