Water Separator Water separator is a simple device in an air compressor which removes the water from compressed air. When air compressors compress air and release it into the storage tank, it contains moisture that condenses and form tiny water droplets. The water separator removes these tiny water droplets from the compressed air before they can cause problem in the compressor and can contaminate the air tools and other equipment. Therefore, it is very important to know where to install water separator on air compressor?

Where To Install Water Separator On Air Compressor

Water separator is a great way to improve the air quality; it makes the compressed air dry to be used for various purposes. Removing moisture from the compressed air can reduce the chances of corrosion and can extend the life of an air compressor.

A water separator should be mounted at least 20ft away from the air compressor. With that distance, the air has time to cool and drop its moisture, and also more condensation will be filtered out of the line.

Also it will be better if you install water separator at some height, to ensure no moisture enters the air stream, and if any water droplets enter the air stream, it drains back into the compressor tank due to gravity.

Now let’s discuss in detail where and how to install water separator in an air compressor.

Installing a water separator on your air compressor is very important to increase the performance and life of your air compressor.

But many people make a mistake of installing the water separator immediately downstream of the air compressor, thinking it will work better if it will be closer to air compressor, but in real, the air will actually pick up moisture again when it is heated in the compressor head. So water separator must be installed at some distance as mentioned above.

How To Manage The 20ft Piping?

Like mentioned a, it takes AT LEAST 20ft for the air to cool and drop its moisture,but it’s also a challenge to manage that 20ft piping effectively.

We will recommend you to arrange a copper wire in a way that it runs from the flex hose at the compressor straight up to the ceiling.

Then across the side, turn and run the length of your garage/room/workplace.

Then turn it 180 degrees (on the same wall) and bring it back about 15 feet and drop into the manifold where your moisture separator is.

Additional TIP:

We will recommend you to have drain valves here on the bottom of all your vertical runs.

You can also increase the length of pipe furthermore, as long as 50ft.

May be some of you will think 50ft will be more than required, but the main point is the lengthier the pipe, all the water droplets and moisture gets dropped into the drain valves on the verticals and will improve the compressed air quality.

How To Install A Water Separator On Air Compressor

Installing a water separator on your air compressor is very crucial to achieve the optimum results with the compressed air.

Below we will step-by-step guide you how to install a water separator on your air compressor.

Step1 – Chose right location:

Choose the right location to install your water separator. You’ll want to install it at least 20ft away to the air inlet of your compressor. This will ensure that the air is fully filtered before it enters the compressor.

Step2 – Chose the right height:

Installing your water separator at some height is also very important. It will ensure no moisture enters the air stream, and if any water droplets enter the air stream, it drains back into the compressor tank due to gravity.

Step 3 – Mount the water separator:

Once you’ve selected the location and height for the water separator, you can begin mounting the unit. Most water separators come with all the necessary hardware and accessories required for installation.

Step 4 – Connect the hose:

Once the water separator unit is mounted, you’ll need to connect the inlet and outlet hoses. The inlet hose should be connected to the air inlet of the air compressor, and the outlet hose should be connected to the air outlet of the air compressor.

Step 5 – Setup the drain hose:

One more important step in installing the water separator on air compressor is to connect the drain hose. This hose will allow water droplets, moisture and sand particles collected in the unit to be drained away.

Step 6 – Turn on the air compressor:

Once all the hose are connected, turn on your air compressor to check for any leaks before using the air compressor with air tools.

Step 7 – Test the water separator unit:

Once everything is set up, now its time to test run the water separator unit. Run the air compressor for a few minutes and then check the drain hose to see if any moisture or sand particles are being collected.

Follow these simple steps and install a water separator on your air compressor yourself. This simple addition will extend the life of your air compressor.

How Does A Water Separator For Air Compressor Work?

A water separator works just like what its name suggests; it separates the water droplets from the compressed air which comes from the air compressor tank.

Apart from water, it also stops dust particles from getting in the compressed air tank, ensuring clean supply of compressed air to your air tools.

Now let’s discuss the process how a water separator in an air compressor works:

Water separator is connected with the air compressor with a pipe. The air inside the air compressor tank travels down the pipe to the water separator’s cap, which is designed in such a way that directs the air down to the bowl.

The air compressor forces the air through a tight spinning path inside the water separator bowl. During the process, the air catches the tiny water droplets and solid dust particles to the bowl, which is then tossed out of the bowl due to continuous spinning flow of air inside the bowl.

The debris of these particles drains down to the bottom of the bowl with a barrier that stops it from mixing with the air.

There are two types of drain:

• Auto drain
• Manual drain

Auto drain helps draining the debris from the bottom of the bowl automatically.

In manual drain, it has to be drained manually to prevent the moisture and particles from getting back in to the air stream.

Important Tips For Maintaining Water Separator

Here we will discuss 8 easy Tips for maintaining water separator on air compressor so that it continues to operate effectively and efficiently.

The water separator must be maintained frequently to continue operating properly. By following these simple tips, you can keep your water separator in good condition:

1. Inspect your water separator regularly:

Inspect your water separator at least once a month, to ensure that there is no build-up of dirt or debris. If you see any, clean it off. Also check for any leakages in the piping or hose fittings.

2. Clean the bowl regularly:

You should also clean the water separator bowl regularly, as the bowl can become clogged with dirtparticles and debris, result in reducing the effectiveness of the water separator. To clean the bowl, simply remove it and wash it with soap and water, or only water.

3. Change the filter regularly:

Change the water separator’s filter regularly, as most water separators have a filter that needs to be changed every few months. The unit will eventually become less effective if you don’t change the filter after some time.

4. Check the O-ring regularly:

The O-ring is another part of the water separator that seals the unit and prevents air from leaking out. O-Ring can become damaged over time. If it does, it can cause the unit to be less effective.

5. Check the gasket regularly:

The gasket is another important part of the water separator that seals the unit and prevents air from leaking out. Gasket must also be checked regularly as it can cause the unit to be less effective if damaged.

6. Lubricate the moving parts:

Lubricate the moving parts of the water separator is also very important as it helps running the unit smoothly and prevent it from being damaged.

7. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions:

Finally, it is also very important to following the manufacturer’s instructions when using and maintaining the water separator to ensure that the unit will last a long time.

Following these maintenance tips will make your water separator work more effectively for a long period of time.

Final Words:

Following the simple steps and tip in this guide, you’ve learned where to install water separator on air compressor yourself, which can increase the optimal performance of your air compressor.