Air Kit Installation: How To Set Up An Air Compressor In A Residential Garage?


How To Set Up An Air Compressor

The presence of an air compressor is a must in your air tool collection due to its excellent versatility, from stapling, cutting, grinding to inflating tires, drilling.

Hence, knowing how to set up an air compressor is a fundamental skill for craftsmen to carry out various projects.

While the assembling process requires effort, you should clearly understand each step to have an appropriate setup.

Improperly installing it can cause the compressor to overheat, explode, catch fire, or even worse.

Bearing all these potential hazards in mind, we’ve put together a thorough guide on compressed air system installation, including nine easy steps:

  • Wear protective gears
  • Power the air compressor
  • Check the oil level
  • Add an air filter
  • Add an oil plug
  • Run the device
  • Connect the air hose & air tool
  • Set regulator
  • Turn it off and store

 Now, let’s get to the details!

Why Is An Air Compressor Setup Beneficial?

Plumbing a functional air compressor system in your garage will provide plausible benefits.

It not only lets the air move from point to point within the garage but also helps cool it down, assisting greatly in decreasing the moisture content.

Lowering the moisture level is extremely important for running pneumatic tools, such as sandblasting or powder coating.

An air compressor makes operations way more manageable for those who frequently work on multiple applications with various required power tools.

Unlike the strain and sweat that goes for the manual handle of saws, hammers, and wrenches, air compressors together with pneumatic equivalents turn such applications into relatively effortless tasks.

As such, these tools have acquired noticeable popularity for power-tool projects of all types.

How To Set Up An Air Compressor In Your Garage?

Air Compressor Setup In Garage

Following our guidelines will ensure a proper air compressor setup in the garage. Just to note, you have to handle the device with additional care since it can quickly overheat or explode, triggering fires.

That’s also the reason it’s crucial to spend time going through the manufacturer’s user manual instructions for an accurate guide of each specific model.

Safety Precautions

Consider your safety the top concern above anything else, as dealing with an air compressor can be dangerous.

It’s always advisable to put on appropriate protective gears before proceeding with the setup.

They include goggles or safety glasses to keep your eyes from any spark or flying particle, closed shoes for feet protection in case some parts pop off, and thick, insulated gloves to prevent severe injuries if the tool explodes.

Plus, you ought to consider covering your ears with ear mugs or earplugs because some models can generate high levels of noise.

Exposing your hearing to repeated loudness may pose permanent damages to it.

Connect The Air Compressor To An Adequate Power Source

Different compressors will require different amounts of power and voltage. So, always look at the power consumption in the manual handbook to find a sufficient power outlet for your tool.

Noteworthy advice from most experienced users is that you’d better avoid attaching a power extension lead to your air compressor.

This extension lead may be somewhat too long to handle the tool precisely.

A compressor model is only applicable to a certain length. Excess power extension might pose a voltage drop, potentially causing the unit to burn out.

If you need to use an extension lead, then also buy a reel extension. It’ll provide extra steering and space in the workplace.

Check The Compressor’s Oil Level

Check The Compressor’s Oil Level

The next step is to go through the compressor’s oil level by looking at the sight glass. This standard procedure of checking the oil level ascertains the fuel is on an ideal fill level.

The oil plays a vital role as it lubricates and cools the engine, keeping it maintained and functional.

If the oil goes under the recommended line, you simply fill the tool with the suitable oil type in the instruction handbook until the oil touches the desired level.

You don’t want to cease the job just to refill fuel, so ensuring an adequate oil volume will reduce interruptions during the operation.

Plus, this step can help establish oil leaks, improving the unit’s efficiency.

Attach An Air Filter

Debris and dust are the top enemies of the air compressor. They would get stuck in the device and reduce productivity without a useful air filter.

Air filters simply keep the air inside your compressor clean, free from dirt and debris. If you’re spraying painting, an air filter will be of great assistance.

Read more: What Size Air Compressor For Painting?

It can help guarantee a dust-free, smooth, and even finish for a satisfying paint job.

Plus, since the air filter deters your compressor system from clogging on debris, you’re less likely to worry about the machine frequently shutting down or malfunctioning.

Use Oil Plug

Once you’ve checked and refilled the oil, it’s time to add a supplementary oil plug. Its job is to generate a vacuum inside the oil container, providing the system with adequate breathing space.

You need to place the oil plug securely at the power outlet after filling the machine with enough oil. Should there be oil residue in the tank, drain it before a new fill-up instead of mixing them up.

Start The Tool

After the assembly, let’s get into the running process. First, plug the compressor into the mentioned power source if your model runs on electricity. For other air compressors, ensure enough fuel for a smooth operation.

Avoid using electrical cord hurdles because they sometimes cause inherent tripping danger due to the compressor’s positioning.

Again, powering equipment involves many risk factors, so it’s always better to keep away from the redundant dangling cord.

Connect The Air Hose and Air Tool

Connect The Air Hose and Air Tool

The next step is to connect the air hose to your air compressor. We advise you to wrap Teflon tape around the attachment point about 4-5 times for the sake of safety.

This way, you’re attaching the hose firmly to the machine without any air leak-out possibility.

Once you’ve made sure the hose stays securely in place, it’s time you attached your air equipment to the end of the hose.

You’ll find a small connector at the hose’s end. This connecting apparatus will pair with the air tool’s coupler.

Simply put, if your compressor includes a female thread, then the air hose has to include a male thread – similarly, vice versa.

Set Regulator

Another essential step of the installation is to set the regulator properly. Before configuring the regulator, it’s advisable to check the producer’s advice first because different compressors will have different settings.

This way, you’ll know the exact pressure setting applying to your regulator.

Set the regulator by using the pressure knob on the hose. The pressure gauge would indicate whenever you reach the desired operating level.

So, you’ve completed the setup process. Your air compressor is now ready to perform various businesses.

After Use

Storage and maintenance after use are also critical to guarantee a piece of equipment that goes with you for years.

Having finished all the work, you turn off the valve, disable the power, and wait for the machine to cool after unplugging for a couple of minutes.

The motor might get extremely hot because of the high temperature resulting from extended use.

After it cools down, you’d better empty the tank by draining the moisture along with the air through the bleed valve.

Any compressor’s tank will gather moisture, or humidity, from the compressed air, particularly if you work in a humid environment.

It’s imperative to drain this moisture regularly and store the air compressor in a place with controlled temperature (not too cold or too hot) and a moisture-free environment.

In doing so, you don’t have to worry about anything interfering with the pressure regulator and the tool’s overall performance.

Please also note to never store it in an area full of oil so that you can prevent accidental explosions and fires.

Read more: How To Drain Air Compressors?

Final Words

Air compressors have proved to be a go-to power tool for professional mechanics, carpenters, or home DIY craftspeople with great functionality and versatility.

So learning how to set up an air compressor in your garage is the initial stage of getting used to it.

Nothing ruins an air tool faster than a clumsy owner who does not install and store it properly.

For the sake of your and the unit’s safety, you’d better read the user manual carefully and follow our step-by-step instructions.

We’re glad to help you assemble your compressed air system with ease!

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