Does your compressor need an overhaul?

If you manage an industrial or manufacturing business, you likely have an air compressor somewhere on your site, but how much thought do you ever give to that compressor. Often, as long as you can switch on the compressor and see that the pressure builds up correctly, it's easy to pretend that nothing else is needed. However, compressor overhauls can often be useful even if you aren't aware of anything wrong with the system. An overhaul can catch potentially serious faults before they develop and leave you with a compressor that fails when you need it.

Avoiding compressor failure

Regular compressor overhauls have a vital part to play in keeping your equipment operating at peak efficiency, but there are still things that you can do to look after the system without outside help. Do you examine the fluid and oil regularly to see if there is anything that might need attention? If you notice metal fragments in the oil, some compressor parts have likely become excessively worn. Other possible signs of danger include extreme vibration levels or an internal temperature higher than expected. Problems like these indicate that a company specialising in compressor overhauls should be called without delay.

How much work is needed?

Not all compressor overhauls are the same. Sometimes, you want a company to repair a specific fault. At other times, you might need the entire compressor rebuilt. The company carrying out the overhaul could strip down the compressor on your site and rebuild it in the same location. Any parts that are too worn to be reused, could be replaced with third-party spares. If you prefer to have the compressor remanufactured, send it away to the original manufacturer and have it overhauled using the original drawings. When the compressor returns, it will comply with the original manufacturing specifications. The manufacturer could replace the gaskets and seals, as well as bearings and other parts that have started to wear.

How much should you pay?

One of the problems with compressor overhauls is that it isn't always clear how much work could be needed. Sometimes, it isn't until the compressor is stripped down that it becomes apparent how much damage has been caused. When talking to a company that carries out compressor overhauls, it can be worth asking them whether they offer a fixed price guarantee, or any similar reassurance about the cost, so you can be sure roughly what the cost will be before work starts.

For more information on compressor system overhauls, contact a company near you.

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