A Morning with a Compressed Air Engineer: What Happens During a Service?
Ever wondered what actually happens when a compressed air engineer arrives on site for a routine service?
From preparing the equipment and carrying out essential safety checks, to changing filters, servicing the dryer and completing thorough final checks, there’s a lot more involved than meets the eye.
We spent a morning following one of our Air Kraft engineers on site to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what happens during a typical compressed air service.
Safety first
After greeting the customer at the scheduled time, our engineer got straight to work by preparing the required servicing parts and equipment.
Before any servicing could begin, safety was the priority. With the correct PPE in place, the air supply safely isolated and all necessary tools on hand, the compressor was ready for servicing to commence.
Inside the compressor
With the compressor safely isolated, the panels were removed to provide access to the components requiring attention.
The first job was draining the compressor oil. The used oil is collected and taken back to the Air Kraft site for appropriate disposal, ensuring servicing waste is handled responsibly.
Next came the air filter. The old filter was removed, the surrounding area thoroughly cleaned and a new filter fitted.
The air-oil separator was then changed as part of the service. This particular compressor is maintained under the Atlas Copco Guardian Service Plan, meaning its long-life oil filter was not yet due for replacement.
Once the old oil had been drained, the compressor was refilled with fresh oil, ready for the next stage of the service.
Keeping the cooling system working efficiently
Good cooling is essential to the reliable operation of a compressor, so the cooler was carefully blown out to remove accumulated dirt and debris.
This helps maintain effective oil and air cooling and supports the compressor in operating efficiently.
Servicing the dryer
With the compressor service underway, it was time to move on to the dryer and oil-water separator.
The dryer's auto drain was removed, cleaned and serviced before everything was given a final blow-out. Once complete, the dryer panels were replaced.
The oil-water separator was then serviced, with the existing filter elements removed and prepared for safe disposal. New filter elements were fitted and the entire system was cleaned up, leaving the equipment ready for operation.
Final checks and test run
With the servicing work complete, it was time to put everything back together and make sure the system was ready to get back to work.
Our engineer carried out a test run of the compressor, followed by thorough final checks to ensure everything was operating as it should.
With no issues identified and no further work recommended, the service was complete.
Ready for another busy day
Before leaving site, all servicing waste was removed, the necessary paperwork was completed and signed, and the equipment was left clean and ready for the customer's busy operations.
Then it was time to pack up and head off to the next customer's site.
So, what happens during a compressed air service?
As this morning on site shows, a routine service involves much more than simply changing a filter. From safety checks and component servicing to cleaning, oil changes, cooling system maintenance and thorough final testing, every stage plays a part in helping keep a compressed air system operating reliably.
At Air Kraft, our engineers work across the Midlands carrying out servicing and maintenance to help customers keep their compressed air systems running safely and efficiently.