David Paule
Well Known Member
Yesterday, I received an evacuation order due to a new wildfire in the vicinity. I shut everything down and left.
Thinking about it after the all-clear was called for my area, I realized that I'd left a potential hazard: the air compressor was topped off. Even with it shut off, the 60 gallon tank has a lot of residual energy. I figured it out once and it worked out to about 1/8 of a stick of TNT. My worry is that if the fire had gotten to the shop, and fire fighters were there, that could have exploded and caused injuries or even deaths.
It would not be hard to drain it. Disconnect the outlet hose and open the valve, and then it would have been safe. Something else to add to your list.
Dave
Thinking about it after the all-clear was called for my area, I realized that I'd left a potential hazard: the air compressor was topped off. Even with it shut off, the 60 gallon tank has a lot of residual energy. I figured it out once and it worked out to about 1/8 of a stick of TNT. My worry is that if the fire had gotten to the shop, and fire fighters were there, that could have exploded and caused injuries or even deaths.
It would not be hard to drain it. Disconnect the outlet hose and open the valve, and then it would have been safe. Something else to add to your list.
Dave