Why is it important to keep water out of your compressed air lines? When our service reps diagnose and fix machines with sticky valves, sporadic indexing, and weakened pressure, water in the lines is often the culprit. The baker then experiences downtime while the machine is offline, the compressor is bled, lines cleared, and valves cleaned to bring the unit back to normal operation, but all of this can be avoided by taking preventative steps to keep water out of your compressed air lines.
KEEP WATER OUT OF YOUR COMPRESSED AIR LINES
Watch the FoodTools Tutorial video above about “Keeping Your Air System Clean”.
KEEP WATER OUT OF YOUR COMPRESSED AIR LINES
Follow these steps to perform preventative maintenance and keep water out of your compressed air lines. Not all of these steps are done on FoodTools machines, so refer to the manuals and maintenance procedures from each manufacturer. All mechanical work should be done by a properly trained employee on your staff, or by a trained technician from a reputable service provider.
STEP 1 – BLEED YOUR AIR COMPRESSOR
For small to midsize bakeries you may be using a portable compressor with multiple machines. Before you connect the air line to any equipment use the air nozzle to spray off the first few seconds of air. This will get the compressed air moving through the line and remove some of the resting condensation. These compressor tanks also have a bleed off valve on the bottom of the tank, and it is a good ideal to drain the tank on a regular basis. For instructions on this process click here for a video that recommends draining your tank once a day.
STEP 2 – STOCK INLINE AIR FILTER
FoodTools helps you keep water out of your compressed air lines by mounting a stock air filter under the air regulator at the beginning of the FoodTools pneumatic system. As soon as you plug an air line into your FoodTools machine, our components are working to let clean air in and keep water and condensation out. With each day of use keep an eye on the reservoir and bled it out when you see standing water. These stock filters are efficient, but regular maintenance is required to keep them operating at peak performance. Click here for a maintenance video made by Norgren Group about how the cost of maintaining the unit is less expensive than the cost of lost pneumatic efficiency.
STEP 3 – INSTALL AN AIR DRYER
For larger food production facilities with permanent air compressors, especially in hot and humid climates, it is recommended to install an air dryer into your compressed air line. These solutions use refrigeration to remove all humidity from the lines, delivering the driest air possible, extending the longevity of your equipment, and improving the overall operation of the systems. Air dryers can be a larger investment than air filters, but for high production facilities or bakeries in hot and humid environments the investment made for clean, dry air will eventually outweigh the cost of maintenance and replacement parts due to humidity in the airlines. For more information about air dryers click here for an instructional video.
FoodTools is dedicated to the efficient operations of our customers and their machines. If you are experiencing sticky valves, sporadic indexing, or weakened power, take a look at your air system. Drain your compressor, check the components of your air filter, and give our service representatives a call for assistance.
Be sure to watch our instructional video about keeping your air system clean.
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