I Have a Dryer, But I still Have Water in my Compressor during Winter. Why?

The ambient temperature in an air compressor’s environment can greatly affect your air compressor’s performance. All air compressors will generate some amount of water, but depending on inlet air conditions some can produce large amounts of water. Making sure your air compressor is properly ridding itself of excess water is crucial to keeping your machine running properly.

Many screw compressors are equipped with water separators that remove water from the airstream. However, the air leaving your compressor is typically warmer than the ambient air around your compressor. As that warm air cools inside of the piping, any moisture will condense and build up in the piping that needs to be removed. This is when your dryer takes over, by cooling down that warm air to 35°F and removing the condensation. However, if your pipes cool down to 35°F as well, this is when you will run into excess water in your pipes. Winter weather around this temperature can pose the problem of excess water in your compressor’s pipes. In some cases (mainly colder climates), a desiccant dryer may need to be used to drop the dew point lower to avoid any water.

If you are using a dryer but are noticing a considerable amount of water in your lines, there are a few common areas you can check:

• Check and make sure the dryer bypass valve is closed.
• Check to make sure that the drains on both your compressor water separator and your dryer water separator are both draining properly, if available.
• If you are using a desiccant dryer, make sure the purge exhaust mufflers are not plugged.
• Feel for a temperature difference between your inlet and outlet air. If there is no difference, you may need to contact us. 
• Make sure your dryer is not being overloaded by a higher inlet temperature than it is rated for. Rising temperatures create more water vapor in the inlet air and some dryers cannot process higher amounts of vapor in a short amount of time.

Although colder ambient temperatures are usually better for your compressor, winter climate can also affect the amount of condensation and overall water in your compressor’s lines. It is always important to regularly check for common condensation issues on your compressor, especially during harsher seasons.

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