Do I drain my compressor tank daily?
Yes. So the manual will tell you something to this effect- During operation, every air compressor produces water. The factors influencing the volume of water deposited into your compressor tank by the compressor pump encompass the humidity and temperature of the intake air, the heat generated by the pump, which affects the tank temperature, and the duration the air remains in the tank as it cools.
Why? To us Southerners- basically, the water starts in the air from the humidity (the intake air). Condensation is like when you have a cold glass of water or beer on a warm day, and you see little drops of water appearing on the outside of the glass. It happens because the air around the glass (intake air) is warm, but the glass is cold (inside your tank and air lines), and when they meet, the water in the air condenses forming larger water droplets. It's all about the change from a gas to a liquid due to temperature differences. As those water droplets multiply and cling together, gravity then pulls them to the bottom of your tank.
What impact does the water have on the tank? Compressor tanks are engineered, constructed, and rigorously pressure-tested to withstand specific internal pressures, often exceeding the compressor's operational range. Water and debris mixture weakens the metal, eventually allowing moisture to directly contact the steel, resulting in oxidation, then degrades the tank over time. The compressor tank is a pressure vessel, and any factors that could compromise its integrity, including rust formation, should be avoided. So, that's how water inside the compressor tank can impact it.
Water can form in your air lines, too! Regardless of your compressed air application, whether it's inflating tires, clearing workbenches, operating air-driven tools, or woodworking machinery, there are hardly any situations where water coming out of the air line benefits the process. Water has a knack for causing metal to rust, and since the inner components of air tools are metal, water exposure could lead to eventually causing these tools to seize and necessitating costly repairs. Water also displaces the oil added to rotary and impact tools there by fostering their untimely failure. (The autobody industry is familiar with fisheyes in your paint jobs, often resulting in a complete repaint.) Water wets whatever it lands on, including workbenches, clinical tools, woodworking or metalworking tools. This not only fosters unwanted dirt buildup in tool crevices but also contributes to rusting metal parts of an integrated piece of your business.
A compressor tank filled with water is a common issue. Each time the compressor pump operates, water enters the tank. Over time, especially in high-humidity regions (Welcome to the South) and during humid days, the tank's water content gradually increases, causing a reduction in effective tank capacity. Your once 60-gallon tank may shrink to 55 gallons, then 40, and so on. As a result, while using the compressed air, your compressor needs to run more frequently to maintain tank pressure because the available compressed air volume is diminished, replaced by water. This causes a condition known as short cycling, and this will cost a LOT of money. Short cycling, if not stopped soon enough, will damage your electrical componets (starters, motors, stitches, etc.).
Automatic tank drains are a viable solution. However, there are pros and cons.
If you emptied your bladder today, your tank needs it too.. just let the water out every morning.