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Air compressor drip leg question

spf8298

Member
We just got a new air compressor at our 3 bay self serve, 1 IBA. We'd been having issues with oil in the lines in our old speed-air, but that compressor made it 26 years so it was time for a new one. Anyway, the new compressor is a continuous duty 2 hp Air-Boss that runs our flo jets through quarter inch poly lines.

What are some of you other operators doing as far as drip legs? We purchased a flo-jet dryer/filter combo and I'm wondering if I should put in a drip leg before and after the flo-jet, or if that's overkill. We don't pump,a tremendous amount of air at the wash, but I do want to eliminate the possibility of run damp air through the flo jets and jamming them up.
 
I just run a cheap Harbor freight water seperator. I only drain it a few times a year. So I don't get much moisture to speak of. I have an 80 gallon compressor for a 4 bay. The air doesn't get heated up that much.
 
I use the flowjet filter/dryer and a water separator. I drain both about once a month. I don't have any issues with flojets gumming up since I installed them.
 
I put an oil/water separator as close to the compressor as I can, and I have to drain it every day. I put a riser on the wall near it with a valve at the bottom that I check every once in a while, but I don't find anything in it. I may think to check it once a year.
 
As air is compressed it heats up. As it expands it cools. At the compressor it is warmest and as it travels away it cools . Warm air holds more moisture which will condense out as it cools. So, the farthest away and closes to the flo jet(s) the better so any separator can remove moisture that has condensed out. I use a separator from McMaster Carr with an auto dump feature,


This is a video of the tunnel back room but the idea for the SS is the same. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyNC_Rjs8c0
 
What kind of air compressor is a 2 hp Air-Boss, I’m not familiar with that brand. I think it might be a little overkill to put in drip legs on both sides of the Flo-jet dryer/filter combo. I don’t have any filters or dryers in my air system and never have a problem with my Flo-Jet pumps, it’s only been like that 30 plus years.
 
Drip legs are your friend. I have multiple drops along the line. . The line does curve, droop, down to the drops so I get even more collected. I just have one drop before the filter to flojet with no problems. Actually before the flojet I have a U in the line with the drop at the bottom.
 
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