Compressor drain frozen

cjensen · #1 02-09-2007, 10:46 AM

It's been so freakin' cold here the last few weeks! I powered up the compressor the other night for the first time in over a month, and my practice when using the compressor on a regular basis, is to drain the water every Wednesday and Sunday after a session. I went to drain it Wednesday night, and lo and behold, when the valve was opened, nada. Not even a pinch of air.

Being that it's below zero at night, and only in to the teens during the day, it's obviously frozen.

Is there any concern here? Should I go so far as to heat the bottom of the tank and drain with a propane torch to drain it? Should I not even have used it when it's this cold? Do nothing, and wait for the spring thaw?

I don't remember having this problem last year...

captainron · #2 02-09-2007, 10:55 AM

Chad, if you bleed off all the air, then run the compressor until it refills, the hot compressed air will probably melt the water in the bottom, then you can drain it.
On mine, I removed the drain valve, put in a 90 elbow and about a 6" pipe nipple, then a brass ball valve and then a poly line drain to the outside. Now I can just give the valve lever a twist and all the **** drains outside the garage/shop. Where I live, no problems with freezing! Sorry!

frankh · #3 02-09-2007, 12:14 PM

Think of it this way, if you run the compressor and it doesn't melt the ice then you have a pretty good refrigeration dryer built into your compressed air system..This is actually a GOOD thing.

I would open the drain valve and start work...if you hear big hissing after a few hours go shut the drain...Otherwise forget about it.

Frank

cjensen · #4 02-09-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captainron

<snip>On mine, I removed the drain valve, put in a 90 elbow and about a 6" pipe nipple, then a brass ball valve and then a poly line drain to the outside.<snip>

I did the same thing...

I'll try running it this weekend with the valve open to see if it will melt out.

captainron · #5 02-09-2007, 01:38 PM

So you're just frozen in that line. Throw a work light under there, then go have dinner!

cjensen · #6 02-09-2007, 01:45 PM

AH! A halogen work light! Ding, ding! Light bulb! Have to get me one of those! Didn't even think of that because my work lights/trouble lights are are LED...

captainron · #7 02-09-2007, 01:50 PM

Ah, just get the el cheapo 100w with the tin guard around it.

Mike S · #8 02-09-2007, 01:57 PM

You might want to support that extension about mid length with a block of wood or something.

Compressors vibrate a lot, and with the way you have it, looks like the fitting in the bottom of the tank will eventually crack.

Mike

cjensen · #9 02-09-2007, 02:00 PM

Thanks Mike. I'll have a look at that this weekend. I *think* that it is actually supported well just resting on the pavement, but I will definitely check on it!

captainron · #10 02-09-2007, 02:12 PM

Chad, what are you looking at for an engine? Any favorites?