In our fast-paced community that we all reside in these days, electric and pneumatic equipment maintenance does not seem to be at the top of the concern checklist. Yet, equipment is a costly investment and just about every one of us wants a electric power or air-driven tool to get the job done properly and safely if we pick it up to use it.

The finest means in order to assure it works is actually to execute normal maintenance and cleansing. You will discover several easy normal servicing, cleanup, storage and also appropriate usage tips that any individual will need to understand and complete. They all just take just five mins or perhaps much less.

The initial issue that many folks overlook when using a brand new tool is usually the operation and treatment details. Right out of the packing, if care recommendations are dismissed, the brand new electric powered or pneumatic air tool is most likely going to have a diminished functional life. Inappropriate practices may also commit the tool to a fast track to the junk-pile  You’ll find some parts of your pneumatically-driven tool that do need to have correct lubricating.  While a number of parts of the electric driven tool should be kept clear of filth. Preserve the maintenance guidelines within a file, or guard it in plastic and keep it inside agood place you’ll effortlessly remember. When you need to use the info, perhaps even years from now, you are gonna be happy that you preserved them. 

Also, countless individuals do not think of what to do in regards to the air hose. It really is best to keep your hoses wrapped up in an air hose reel.  Air hose reels, particularly a retractable air hose allows you to make your hose a lot more tidy, so you won’t have to be concerned with tripping and getting hurt.

Power tools including drills, drill presses, electrical power screwdrivers and circular tools demand minimal upkeep. Try to keep them nice and clean and store inside a clean, dry spot where they have some shelter. Keep airborne dirt and dust off spots where electricity flows, and also safeguard them from the rain.Check out the electric wire, switches and connectors periodically for damage. Ensure good securing of chucks and bits. When the device has been given with a protective case, take advantage of it for storage.

Other electric power tools like tablesaws, bandsaws, miter saws, power sanders, and many other like power  electric power may have to have special consideration for their care. This is because the very design of the equipment calls for a sawing or abrasive activity. These cutting or sanding parts break down and need to get changed regularly, but it really can be much further than that.

Flattening equipment areas, attempting to keep saw dust or sticky buildup off of important elements, and checking out electronic pieces for any suffered impairment.  At the same time be sure you check the ball bearings and pulleys operate correctly, and that each of the elements are getting appropriate oiling since it’s significant to proper functionality and the lifetime of the equipment.

Air tools are ordinarily pneumatically-powered and they need to have correct lubrication as well. It’s always a straight forward process; merely insert several drops of pneumatic lubricant in to the air flow intake coupling. In situations where you’re operating your pneumatic air device every single day, it’s recommended to lubricate it on a daily basis. Keep a very good tight seal so that you eliminate loss of pressure on parts by using tape on threaded areas. Additionally, clear or change filters, as necessary determined by utilization of the tool.

Keep in mind to shelter any gear from water and severe temperatures and cold temperatures. Exposure to dampness may bring about rust on clean metal areas and inclimate temps can cause destruction in many ways. Last but not least, use your tools as they’re supposed to be used. Nearly all equipment are built for particular tasks and when they are subject to stress they weren’t designed for, they are going to probably become damaged.

Now that you have decided to make the new shed in the backyard your workshop shed it is time to think about those new tools.  You have studied both the battery powered tools and electric corded tools and now it is time to have a look at pneumatic tools as well.  Let’s take a closer look at the pneumatic air powered tool option in your shed planning.

Being air powered tools we know from the beginning that a generating source to compress air will be needed. Air tools tend to be light weight and have a housing constructed of aluminum and steel. They have fewer moving parts which constitutes less parts wear and breakage and results in fewer repair costs. Another reason for the light weight of these types of tools is the lack of any electric components and because of this lack of electric components they also cost less. Being air driven pneumatic tools have more power and are safer to use than their electric counterparts.  The overall life expectancy is greater than both the battery powered tools or the electric corded tools and so the result is lower replacement costs.

As stated above a source of compressed air to run the tools with is needed in the form of an air compressor. This will have to be an electric powered generator as battery or pneumatic is not really feasible. To work for extended periods the air compressor should have a storage tank that will have a capacity of 4 to 5 gallons. A smaller tank than 4 to 5 gallons will quickly expend the quantity of air it contains and you will find yourself waiting for it to cycle. Cycling simply means the machine has to build up enough air to run the tool. It is recommended that the compressor be able to produce at least 135 psi of pressure and have a pressure gauge that will measure up to at least 135 psi (pound per square inch). There will be times when more than one tool may be needed at the same time so it is very beneficial to have multiples outlets on the machine.

The first pneumatic tool you will probably want to buy will be an air nail gun. When a project requires lots of nails an air nailer will make short work of the task. There are many types of air tools that can be purchased some of those are an impact wrench, air ratchet, pneumatic grinder, sanders, spray guns and screw drivers to name a few.

So now the choice has to be made. There are three types of like tools, powered three different ways.  I guess the only thing to do is weigh the pros and cons and use your own best judgment on what works best for you. Good Luck!

One of the many things that man has been regularly achieving new heights in, is the designing and development of tools. This is why he started from stones and is, currently, working with electric power tools.

Electric power tools are automatic tools that work on electric motor. Their advantage over the conventional hand tools is that they bring both efficiency and speed to the work and at the same time, save a lot of physical labor.

Electric power tools are mainly of two types-
i)Stationary
ii)Portable

Stationary electric power tools are bigger and more cumbersome and are used mainly by professionals at construction sites, garages, factories and other such places to do bigger tasks of sawing, drilling, bench grinding and other similar activities. Some of the common stationary electric power tools are saws, electric sanders, routers, bench grinders and lathes.

Portable electric power tools include mainly the cordless power tools. They are different from stationary electric power tools in a way that they can be carried every where easily. They are usually smaller in size and perform smaller tasks. Under portable electric power tools, one can find cordless drillers, cordless screw drivers, cordless cutters, cordless flash lights and countless other such tools.

Electric power tools are one kind of power tools. Other kind of power tools is air tools which run on compressed air. They are also called pneumatic power tools. They are as efficient as electric power tools with the difference being in just the energy source. In fact, air tools are cheaper and safer then electric power tools. Every power tool which is found in electric power tool form can also be found in the air-tool form. Some of the air power tools are air compressors, air grease guns, air hoses, air routers, air wrenches and automotive air tools.

Some of the leadind manufacturers of electric and air power tools are Makita, Ingersoll Rand, Snap-On and Chicago Pneumatic, KAESER, Fuji Air Tools and Atlas Copco.

One could get power tools and air tools from some of these brands like Makita, Chicago Pneumatic and Snap-On at most reasonable prices at Arizona Tools. To place your order with Arizona Tools right away, log on to arizonatools.

Stop wasting your time with using hand tools when you could be using power tools that are faster and more efficient. Hand tools have been around for centuries and are simple but slow. Today we still have hand tools but they are old technology and out dated. Hand tools were all that we had until power tools were introduced to the public. Power tools are what built the United States and all of the cities in it were all constructed with the help of some kind power tool.

Power tools revolutionized how we did our everyday tasks. Power tools enabled us to get more work done with less user fatigue than compared to using hand tools. Power Tools allowed a person to get the job done 2 to 3 times faster than compared to using hand tools which allows more time to do what you want and not chores or work. Why pound nails with a hammer when you can use a nail gun. Why turn wrenches and ratchets when you can use air tools and finish in half the time and half the effort. I even know people that only take their cars to mechanics that use power tools because power tools will get the job done in half the time saving you money.

Then Power Tools went to the next level by going cordless. Cordless power tools allowed a person to go anywhere and everywhere with no cords attached. No more dragging around extension cords or being limited to working next to an outlet. Today’s technologies have made power tool batteries with 2 times more capacity and only 1 hour charge times. With 2 batteries and a charger, a person could work all day without running out of battery power. Cordless power tools work great for working on roofs because extension cords tend to want to slide off the roof or they are not long enough and won’t reach your work area. Little things like this take up a lot of time and will slow your productivity down.

So when are you going to put down the screw driver and pick a power drill. If you’re looking to use power tools on the job I recommend Name Brands such as DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, or Skil. If you want a power tool to use around the house I recommend Non-Name Brands because their a third of the price of name brands and still are just as good. Our whole community depends on power tools anywhere from cordless drills to impact wrenches we all depend on them and most of us use them everyday.

Now that you’ve invested in an air compressor to run all of your air tools you’re going to have to learn how to keep it up and running. Because the standard handyman’s air compressors don’t typically require daily upkeep, it’s easy to forget about them and neglect their upkeep. This can be a costly oversight so it’s vital for you to keep an eye on the following maintenance tips.

Maintenance Tip 1: Read and Follow Your Air Compressor’s Manual

Nothing stops an air compressor faster than an owner who doesn’t read the owner’s manual. There’s going to be some simple tips in there for you that will help you to get a nice long life out of your air compressor – simple stuff for you to do that you would never have thought to do unless you read it. Plus, if you don’t follow the rules in your air compressor manual there’s a chance that you’ll void your warranty. That in itself should be enough of an incentive to read the “flipping” manual.

Maintenance Tip 2: Drain The Moisture From The Tanks

The receiver tank collects moisture from the air that it’s compressing – especially if you live in a humid climate. Most tanks have a valve for draining this moisture that accumulates and it’s up to you to make sure that these are drained regularly. Before draining the water you should be sure to release the air pressure from the tanks.

Maintenance Tip 3: Clean Intake Vents

If you force your air compressor to work too hard to intake air you’re losing power on your compression. This will gradually degrade the quality of your tool. Be sure to keep your intake vent as clean as possible and check them regularly especially if you’re working in a dusty or dirty environment.

Maintenance Tip 4: Tighten All Fasteners

Your air compressor’s a running, vibrating engine and it will loosen its screws, nuts and bolts on a regular basis. Be sure to check these periodically and tighten them up if you find any that have jiggled loose.

Maintenance Tip 5: Check Hoses Regularly

Check all your hoses periodically as they are the veins of your air compressor. If they become cracked or corroded they could soon begin to leak and then put undue strain on the rest of your compressor’s components. Be sure to check them and replace them if you find them cracked or damaged.

Maintenance Tip 6: Test the Safety Shutdown System

Your air compressor may have a built in safety shut down. The function of this system is to shut off your compressor if it’s getting too hot, or if the engine’s oil pressure is too low. This test will help you ensure a longer lasting compressor.

Maintenance Tip 7: Check and Change Air Filters As Needed

A filthy air filter is only hurting your air compressor by allowing dirty air from the outside in, plus forcing it to work harder to intake air. Check your filters regularly and change them if you notice a heavy build up of dust and dirt. Change every six months or so if you use it infrequently.

Maintenance Tip 8: Clean the Fuel Tank

As with any engine you need to periodically clean out the fuel tank to ensure optimal operating conditions. You should look to clean out the engine on your air compressor once every year or so to remove any residual build up from the fuel. This will preserve the life of your engine.

Maintenance Tip 9: Check and Change the Compressor Oil

If you’re running a compressor that uses oil you should be checking it on a daily basis to make sure that your machine is topped off. Then, every 500-1000 hours of use you should be changing this oil to ensure maximum functioning of your air compressor.

Maintenance Tip 10: Change the Separator Element

The separator element prevents the excessive use of oil, but it has to be replace periodically. Keep your compressor in top condition by replacing the separator element every 1,000 hours of operation.

Maintenance Tip 11: Clean the Heat Exchangers

If your heat exchangers are dirty then they can’t do their job, which is to reduce the operating temperatures of your air compressor. Clean them regularly to keep your operating temperatures down and increase the life span of your air compressor.

By following the tips above you’ll ensure a nice long life for your air compressor, plus the jobs that you use it for will go faster and more productively. A well maintained air compressor is a wonderful machine for any job site or workshop, so keep yours running smoothly.

It is almost impossible today to find an auto shop or mechanical shop today that does not have an air compressor that runs various air tools and accessories. If a shop has an air compressor, it will have air hoses running all over the place to run air tools, grease guns, inflate tires and perform various other tasks. In order to keep your shop floor safe and clutter free, an air hose reel is the easiest and most widely used method for storing and using air hoses. Hose reels are also used for air, water, gardens, potable water, cold water, hot water, oxy-acetylene as well as grease and oil pumping systems. With this many different applications, a shop can quickly become a tangle of different colored hoses. Besides hurting productivity and looking sloppy, loose hoses on the shop floor are a safety hazard. Today, most professional auto shops have several air hose reels mounted on the walls that will automatically retract and store air hoses. There are basically three different versions of the air hose reel.

The most common type of air hose reel is the open faced self retracting type. This type of air hose reel is generally constructed with heavy gauge steel and corrosion resistant components to withstand the demanding environment of the modern auto shop. Auto rewind is also a standard feature and is highly recommended by Red Hill Supply. A good air hose reel also will have the ability to be mounted on the wall, ceiling or even on a service truck. Some other features to look for is: dual axle support (This is important to withstand vehicle vibration if the air hose reel will be mounted on a service truck. ),Weep holes in the drum. (Weep holes allow moisture to drain from the drum and reduce rusting.) and heavy gauge steel.

The closed face air hose reel is becoming much more popular and popping up in more and more high end auto shops. A closed face air hose reel has several advantages over its open faced cousin. First, the air hose is completely protected when it is fully retracted in the case. This protects the hose from harsh weather conditions and other hazards that can damage and ruin a hose. Another common feature is the ability to wind the hose back and forth and insure the hose is wound back up levelly. This insures the air hose is always retracted equally across the drum. Also, the outer casing is usually made of industrial grade polypropylene that is resistant to ultraviolet light. This makes the air hose reel dent resistant and impervious to corrosion.

Mainly the manual air hose reel is relegated to the garage and home mechanic. This type of air hose reel has to cranked with a lever in order to retract the hose back onto the reel. They typically are of cheaper construction and not as durable as the other types of reels. However, if you are looking for a low cost air hose reel for your garage, a manual air hose reel will be just fine and provide you with years of service.

Air duct cleaning is a relatively new industry that has exploded as a $4 Billion a year industry in the United States alone, in the 21st century. Some people have embraced air duct cleaning as a beneficial service, while others have criticized the service and view the service as a waste of time and money. More than likely though, people who have their varying view points for and against the service are both correct on this issue in one way or another and in this article I will address why I think that both sides raise interesting and very good points that you as a consumer should consider. In this article I will address different air duct cleaning methods and explain what those methods are, I will explain credentials so that you can better understand who the organizations are and who they represent and last I will address the common scams that are out there so that you as a consumer can avoid being caught up into such scams to increase the possibilities of receiving a good service performed correctly, should you ever schedule an air duct cleaning service in the future with a local service provider.

The two most common air duct cleaning methods are the “contact cleaning” method and the “Power vacuum air wash” method in air duct cleaning. The contact cleaning method in air duct cleaning involves the use of shop vac style equipment to keep constant contact between the vacuum hose and duct work surface during the cleaning process. Generally speaking the companies that employ this form of cleaning charges less money for their services, because they know that they are limited in what dirt, dust and debris that they can actually pull out of the air ducts and are typically in your home to perform the service for 30 minutes to 1 hour. There is usually no benefit to an air duct cleaning service when this method of cleaning is performed, however it may be beneficial if the actual vent boots were full of construction debris or dog food or whatever and you did not feel like cleaning the vent boots and preferred to just get a cheap service provider out to do that work for you instead. Now, the power vacuum air wash method in air duct cleaning involves the use of expensive powerful equipment to allow a technician to deep clean the entire HVAC system. The vacuum hose is usually 8-12″ in diameter and is installed in the main trunk line to put the entire air duct system under a deep and powerful vacuum.

No kidding, every vent in the house will have a powerful vacuum pulling hard off of every vent in the house for a perfect negative air containment, which disallows any cross contamination of dirt discharges in your home to occur during the cleaning process! The vacuum machines could be 220 volt HEPA rated negative air machines, gas powered or diesel powered machines to generate a powerful enough vacuum to perform the service properly. Compressed air tools are used to air wash all of the dirt, dust and debris to the power vacuum hose installed in the main duct, trunk line. When the power vacuum air wash form of air duct cleaning is performed correctly the service usually takes anywhere from 2-4 hours to perform the service in an average sized home. Reputable companies will clean all supply boots, adjoining supply branch lines, supply trunk line(s), supply plenum, return boots, return channels, return trunk line(s) and return plenum, virtually 100% of the entire HVAC system.

It is vital that the entire air duct system is cleaned, because if any debris and or contamination is left in the system, then that missed debris and or contamination will just recirculate again to recontaminate the air duct system as if nothing was even done, once the furnace is turned on again after the air duct cleaning is complete. A typical forced air ventilation is a circulatory system of constant air in and air out when a furnace is in operation. Companies that are licensed for HVAC will also thoroughly clean the furnace and evaporator coil (indoor coil that is often above the furnace).

The benefits can be tremendous with this method of cleaning, such as increased air flow, increased HVAC system efficiency, reduced dust in the home, reduction in unpleasant odors deriving from the air ducts and increased life expectancy of working HVAC parts such as surface igniters, blower motors, limit switches and capacitors that dirt, dust and debris destroys over time. A reputable company that pays their technicians well, maintains their tools & machinery and possesses all of the proper credentials such as ACCA membership status, EPA certified technicians to handle refrigeration and carries proper insurance(s) will charge anywhere from $425.00-$1000.00 per HVAC system for about half a days work to properly clean each HVAC system.

The price swing is also factored by different cost of living standards depending on where you live in the country and varying overhead costs that each company carries. Some one in Manhattan New York would probably be near the $1000.00 price per HVAC system cleaned, whereas someone in Austin Texas would be near the $425.00 per HVAC system cleaned. The cost of living is much higher in Manhattan New York than in Austin Texas, so logically air duct cleaning in Manhattan New York would cost more than in Austin Texas.

Credentials are very important! Beware of companies that have no credentials at all, because an in experienced service provider can cause a lot of expensive damage to your HVAC system, if they don’t know what they are doing and you surely don’t want to be stuck with an expensive repair bill as a result. The best credentials that a service provider can have is the ACCA membership status.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) HVAC system cleaning standards is the only air duct cleaning standard accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ANSI is a reputable international organization that creates rigid tough standards to improve products and services for the better good of the consumer to ensure that the product or service is safe and effective. If an organization lacks ANSI accreditation, then they lack validity to their product or service(s) in the HVAC, Heating, ventilation and air conditioning field.

A prime example of that would be NADCA, which stands for the National Air Duct Cleaning Association. NADCA has raised some good guidelines to follow in an air duct cleaning procedure, however they lack knowledge in having much HVAC technical knowledge to deliver the best procedures in cleaning your furnace or evaporator coil, which is at the heart of the entire air duct system. Very often NADCA member companies are not licensed for HVAC, which increases your risk when hiring them to clean and HVAC system. These vital working components needs to be cleaned as well, which means in my opinion NADCA will leave you in the dust pertaining to HVAC system cleaning. The safe approach to take is to shop around with ACCA member companies to ensure that your HVAC system is cleaned correctly by a licensed HVAC contractor or company rather than hiring an under trained carpet cleaner or air duct cleaner.

Air duct cleaning is a good service to have performed if it is done properly by an ACCA member company, however many companies have exploited the good service that many homeowners and building owners desire by delivering bait and switch tactics or blow and go air duct cleaning procedures that leaves the system contaminated after the service has been performed. 9 times out of 10 you should discredit ads that state air duct cleanings start at $59.00-$199.00 for up to 10 vent lines cleaned. Only two results will derive from these forms of advertising such as Company “A” arrived for $79.00 and in fact cleaned 10 vent lines with a shop vac type machine and left within 1 hour leaving your system contaminated or Company “B” arrived to clean 10 vent lines for $69.00 and their technician explained that the returns are very dirty too and they can be cleaned for $25.00 each.

Now your ticket has turned to $144.00 with 3 return lines cleaned. While the technician is still cleaning he realizes that your trunk lines are dirty too and up sells you on that to clean a supply trunk line for $100.00 and to clean a return trunk line for another $100.00, which now turns the ticket into $344.00. You’re done with receiving the up selling, right? No, think again, because the technician explained to you that he had to cut out accesses into the ductwork to clean it right, he of coarse now has to sell you clean out doors to install so that all of your air doesn’t escape out of the system, so he quotes you at $75.00 for each clean out door installed to make the ticket $494.00 from an additional $150.00 for two doors sold.

If the job was performed correctly that would be fine, however the guy is in your house with a shop vac type machine, which means he received $494.00 from you to leave your HVAC system contaminated. After he leaves once the air duct cleaning service has been performed, you realize that dust is blowing out of all of the vents when the furnace cycles, because he disturbed a lot of dust during the air duct cleaning, because shop vac style machinery are in effective in performing a thorough air duct cleaning service. You could have called a reputable company that is an ACCA member company utilizing the most powerful equipment in the industry to give you an “up front” price quote right in the same ball park for price as the bait and switch company eventually got out of you, to get the job done thoroughly and correctly. If it is too good to be true, that is because it is. Buyer beware, these bait and switch tactics have been going on for years and usually the companies that follow these price structures are the very companies leaving the majority of dirt, dust and debris in your ventilation system that they were paid good money by the customer to clean out.

When shopping around for a service provider that offers air duct cleaning as a service, make sure that they are an ACCA member company, which tells you that they are licensed for HVAC and check their record at the BBB. If they have a few complaints that is fine, so long as all of the complaints have been resolved. You know there is a huge difference with 5 complaints all quickly resolved and 112 complaints unresolved. These contractors and companies deal with the general public, which means they deal with all different walks of life of different personalities and characters on a daily basis. It is almost impossible if a company has done enough volume of work to keep a perfect record with the BBB. Usually the companies that are small and have not done too many jobs are the only companies that have the perfect score with the BBB. No less, the BBB is still a good reference though, to safe guard yourself from blatant scamming companies and it would be wise to reference companies there if you are unsure of the companies over all reputation.

The conclusion of this article is if a company is licensed for HVAC, uses the most powerful air duct cleaning machinery in the industry, performs air duct cleanings by the power vacuum air wash method and has a good reputation with the BBB and other reporting institutions, then air duct cleaning will more than likely be performed thoroughly and properly in most instances, so that you can realize positive results such as increased air flow coming out of vents, odor reductions deriving from the vents, increased HVAC system efficiency and increased furnace and air conditioning part life.

Author: Mike Meincke Managing Member of Lucky Duct, LLC. Lucky Duct, LLC is a full service licensed heating and air conditioning company that operates in Denver Colorado. Visit www.luckyduct.net to find more great information and facts on air duct cleaning. Enter the “Air Duct” page to find air duct cleaning related content.

Ask a Question:
What are the secrets to choosing the right Air Compressor for my operation?

Answer:
Compressed air is used widely throughout industry and is often considered the “fourth utility” at most facilities. So…before you invest the money…invest some time to learn these compressed air basics.

1. Gain a basic understanding of Compressed Air terminology:
Knowing these basics can speed up your selection process and boost your ability to choose the most efficient and cost effective air compressor system. You’ll be better informed to talk about your needs with any air compressor sales representative.

SCFM: Standard Cubic Feet per Minute.
This is the volume of air flow. You will need to know how much SCFM you need to operate your equipment.

PSIG: Pounds per Square Inch Gauge
It is the pressure resulting from a force applied to an area of one square inch…a unit of pressure relative to the surrounding atmosphere.
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
The ISO provides a set of Standard Classes of Compressed Air Quality.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world’s largest developer and publisher of International Standards.
Learn more…See these actual standards by clicking here.

DUTY CYCLE:
The duty cycle of a machine refers to how long it can keep operating before it needs a rest, or what percentage of the time it’s designed to be in use. The Duty Cycle is generally 75% in Reciprocating Compressors and 100%with Screw Air Compressors. Example: During one hour of operation for a Reciprocating Compressor, the compressor will run 75% of that hour – or run for 45 minutes and rest for 15 minutes.

ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS:
VOLTAGE, AMPERE and PHASE: You should know what is available at your location to run your equipment. Always have a qualified electrician review electrical requirements

COMPRESSOR LOCATION:
These terms deal with the physical location of your compressor in relation to other equipment, noise level requirements, and ventilation. Also consider the need to have enough space around your compressor to perform needed maintenance.

2. Gather your vital information.
The best and easiest place to begin is to discover what your air requirements are according to your equipment manufacturer’s specifications. Then…determine the answers to the following questions:

-How much air flow (SCFM or CFM) is needed to operate ALL related equipment?
CFM helps you determine the HORSEPOWER you’ll need…which also affects your POWER requirements.

-How much pressure (PSIG or PSI) is needed to operate ALL related equipment?
Compressor discharge pressure (PSI: pounds per square inch) must exceed the PSI requirement of all pneumatic tools or equipment being operated. You want to make sure that your compressor can successfully provide the air you need for ALL your equipment.
-What ISO Air Quality Classification do you need?
Do you need oil-free air? Breathing air? Both of these can be produced with oil-free compressors, or with lubricated compressors and additional filtration equipment. Careful consideration should be given to the risk and cost associated with product contamination, before selecting an oil-free or lubricated air compressor.

-What Class does your air fall into?
Plant Air: Air tools, general plant air
Instrument Air: Laboratories, paint spraying, powder coating, climate control
Process Air: Food and pharmaceutical process air, electronics
Breathing Air: Hospital air systems, diving tank refill stations, respirators for cleaning and/or grit blasting

-What are your electrical or power requirements?
Identify available incoming electrical service before specifying an air compressor. Always have a qualified electrician review electrical requirements. You may need to upgrade your electrical service.

-Where is the best location for your compressor?
An important consideration when utilizing a compressed air system within an operation is where to physically locate the unit. There isn’t just one way to install a compressor, but be aware of all the advantages and disadvantages to each system and layout. For most plant environments, compressed air systems are designed to fit in a centralized area, adjacent or near the actual applications in which it serves. Sometimes it may be more beneficial to have several smaller compressors with separate distribution systems located throughout a plant rather than one larger compressor.

-Do you need a back-up compressor?
Downtime can be very costly. Consider how vital compressed air is to your operation to determine if you need a back-up.

3. Apply your knowledge and data to help determine your air compressor specifications.
Now you are ready to take all your information gathered on your air compressor needs and talk to an authorized air compressor distributor. With your vital information in hand…you can make a wise and cost efficient decision.
The two most popular types of air compressors are Reciprocating Compressors and Rotary Screw Compressors.
Reciprocating Air Compressors
- Low initial cost
- Low maintenance cost
- Higher energy operating cost
- Maximum Duty Cycle = 75%

Reciprocating compressors are available in sizes from less than 1 hp to more than 600 hp. Oil less compressor models are also available for applications requiring a higher quality of air, such as breathing air in hospitals, or for use in food or pharmaceutical production.
Rotary Screw Air Compressors
- Medium initial cost
- Medium maintenance cost
- Lower energy operating cost
- Maximum Duty Cycle = 100%

BOTTOM LINE:
There are various types of Air Compressors to select from and many things to consider in order to select the compressed air system that best suits your needs. Key issues are always reliability, cost-effectiveness, ease of operation and maintainability.
1. Understand your needs.
2. Gather your information and specifications from equipment manufacturers, and review your power requirements.
3. Apply what you’ve learned and the data gathered…and talk to a knowledgable and authorized compressor distributor to help you make the best equipment choice.

The air we breathe contains contamination in the form of water vapor and air borne particles. During the compression process an air compressor concentrates these contaminants and depending on the age of the air compressor can even add contamination in the form of oil carryover. Basically, a modern air compressor amplifies the damaging effect of water vapor and airborne particles by virtue of the compression process. If you breathing in some dusty, humid air, your air compressor is feeling it far more than you are. Water vapor can be particularly destructive to the air compressor but it doesn’t end there. Remember the whole reason you have an air compressor is to run your air tools and other accessories. A compressor by itself isn’t very useful. It’s the air tools it powers! An air tool can get some serious damage over time by pumping it full of dirty compressed air and you may find your favorite impact wrench just doesn’t have the same power it used to a few years ago. The problem may not be the impact but the dirty and wet air you are pumping through it.

Modern air compressors have several methods to combat this problem. Some have built in aftercoolers and water separators to remove excess moisture. In some applications this may be all you require. It you are working in much harsher conditions or the tools you are powering require cleaner air, you may need to consider compressed air filters to clean the air further.

Ingersoll Rand has been the leader in air compressors for literally decades and they produce a full line of filters, refrigeration dryers, desicant dryers, and cooling systems for modern air compressors. Their air filters come with a differential pressure indicator to give the operator a quick and easy reminder of how much life is left in the filter element. Also, the Oleophobic filter media actively repels oil and water to reduce pressure drop and keep operating expenses down to a minimum. Typical filter media soaks up oil and water increasing pressure drop. This reduces the efficiency of the air filter and will produce higher operating costs.

One important lesson to remember is that just because you have the lastest air filters on your shop air compressor, the compressed air is not safe to breathe. The compressed air should not be used for breathing air applications unless it is treated with all applicable codes and regulations. An air impact wrench is not as sensitive as your lungs and you don’t want even small amounts of lubricating oil deposited in your lungs.

Information on different air duct cleaning methods

Power Vacuum/Air Sweep method:
Average equipment value being used to perform an air duct cleaning: $50,000.00-$150,000.00 worth of machinery and equipment

According to NAIMA this method of cleaning is the most thorough form of cleaning a ventilation or HVAC system to deliver the lowest particulate count exiting an HVAC system. Actual air studies by a reputable international organization, such as NAIMA, has conclusively proven that this in fact occurs in a ventilation system, which of coarse should be a no-brainer because if particulate matter was merely stuck to the sidewalls of ductwork and did not in fact circulate, then mechanical engineers would have never invented a furnace filter. How many HVAC service technicians have instructed you to never use a furnace filter? Probably, not too many, right? That is because it has been known for several decades that dirt, dust and debris will always circulate in a forced air ventilation system. Fortunately, most people are not completely unaware of this problem and have realized that occasional HVAC system cleaning can produce very good indoor air quality results when performed thoroughly and correctly.

Now that we logically know that forced air systems, which moves air in a ventilation system not only moves the air inside of the ductwork, but the fine micron particulate matter that science had previously proven existed floating around with that same air, we can get on to the various cleaning methods that tries to tackle the build up problem that time will cause in a forced air ventilation system.

A raging debate between various companies world-wide tries to advertise and endorse their methods of cleaning to convince a consumer and potential customer that their method of cleaning is superior. Rather than writing a very obvious slanted article, I realized that simply stating what the advantages and disadvantages of each cleaning method is, would allow the consumer or potential customer to decide for themselves as to which cleaning method would best serve them. Yes, I can admit that every cleaning method has a clear advantage and disadvantage. Although I would love to make every consumer and or potential customer our customer, the reality is that many factors affect where a consumer or potential customer turns to for their indoor air quality needs.

Power Vacuum/Air Sweep method:
Average equipment value being used to perform an air duct cleaning: $50,000.00-$150,000.00 worth of machinery and equipment.

This method of cleaning is the most expensive, thorough and risky form of cleaning out there. The machinery can cost anywhere from $50,000.00- $150,000.00. The cost to operate is higher and if the technicians are not properly trained the risk of dusting out a house or breaking something in the house is greater.

The power vacuum/air sweep method involves a powerful large diameter vacuum hose generally ranging in diameter from 8”-12” that moves anywhere from 3000 CFM – 26,000 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of negative air draw depending on the type of power vacuum machinery being used. Typically speaking, having power vacuum machines that moves anymore that 10,000 CFM is foolish, considering the fact that all ductwork is rated for a set amount of CFM based on the size of the ductwork through external static pressure ratings, velocity and ambience. I do have to admit that the more power a vacuum has, the cooler it is to witness, though.

The power vacuum hose is typically installed into the ductwork via a circle cut out which allows for the power vacuum to put the entire side of the ductwork under a complete and sound vacuum draw. By doing so, every vent attached to the ductwork will have a centrally created vacuum present for proper system containment. From there, various mechanical brushes are sent down the rounds to break and push all debris down to where the power vacuum is sucking. Afterwards compressed air ranging from 150 psi – 250 psi air washes anything left by the brushes, to thoroughly and completely clean the round. Once all of the supply/heat pipes are cleaned a variety of different brushes, air whips and blow back jetters are employed to source remove all of the bulk matter back towards the power vacuum. This method of cleaning is superior for actually ridding the ductwork of all loose contamination because there is typically no cleaning obstacles presented by the ductwork that the self propelled mechanical and air tools can’t over come, as well as the fact that the sheer power of the vacuums not only effectively keeps all the debris contained, but has enough power to pull this debris out of the system.

Advantage:

Most thorough mode of cleaning where a positive effect such as increased HVAC system efficiency is realized, increased airflow from supply rounds is realized, less HVAC equipment parts failure is realized (or increased part lifespan occurs) elimination of foul odors presented by isolated incidents where dead animals are presented, animal liquid & solid excretions occur and odor emitting mold/mildew and bacteria occurs and in some cases dust reductions are noticed depending on the amount of contamination that is present in a ventilation system. After this method of cleaning is performed, assuming that the occupant maintains that furnace filter I previously mentioned to manufacturer recommendations, then cleanings may only need to be performed every 3-4 years or even longer if you invest in a high media filter unit.

Disadvantage:

This method of cleaning takes longer, the machinery costs more, which means you are charged more than what most contact cleaning companies would charge you. If the company does not adequately train their personnel to perform this cleaning method, then the risk of mishap is greater than a contact cleaning company due to the overwhelming power engaged into the ventilation or HVAC system cleaning project. This cleaning process is a louder process due to using effective and powerful machinery.

Contact Cleaning Method:
Average equipment value being used to perform an air duct cleaning: $500.00-$4,000.00 worth of machinery or equipment.

This method of cleaning is the safest form of cleaning in ensuring a reduced amount of mishaps and or errors at a jobsite occurs. Typically speaking, a company will use a glorified shop vac, various carpet cleaning hose attachments in conjunction with carpet cleaning machinery and or even a glorified shop vac with a spinning brush. Most contact cleaning companies will spend 30 minutes to 2 hours in attempting to reach as much ductwork that a person is physically able to reach. A small minority of contact cleaning companies will even make a good go at it and will spend up to 8 hours at an average residential jobsite. It is even fair to say that if a contact cleaning company spent all day, if the ductwork was completely exposed and if the ductwork was small enough, a contact cleaning company could technically perform a thorough job if the technician was motivated to perform a thorough job.

Advantage:

The contact cleaning method of air duct cleaning is usually more affordable in price for the consumer/customer because the equipment is so cheap. The contact cleaning method of air duct cleaning is a safer form of cleaning in ensuring that less mishap and errors occur during a job or project because not much agitation of dirt, dust and debris is being made. Contact cleaning machinery is usually not as loud as power vacuum machinery.

Disadvantage:

The contact cleaning method of air duct cleaning is very limited in what dirt, dust and debris is actually pulled out of a ventilation and or HVAC system. 2” diameter vacuum hoses cannot suck up 3” diameter beer cans or soda pop cans. Due to the laws of physics in that a 2” diameter vacuum hose leaves behind all large diameter items, no airflow improvement is ever realized after the service is performed. Clumsy shop vac hoses usually cannot effectively clean through most furnaces burners, hence the ash, dirt, carbon and dust that can be found in these burners typically stay in the burners. This results in no efficiency improvement when cleaning out the burners, because the shop vac hose could not fit inside of the burners to properly clean it as compressed air or nitrogen can. Most ventilation and or HVAC systems have portions of ductwork that is not easily accessible due to portions of the ductwork being drywall finished around. Should this be the case at any given jobsite, a consumer and or customer must realize that a large portion of ductwork will not be cleaned as a result when the contact cleaning method of air duct cleaning is employed. Typically a shop vac hose can only reach up to 15’ before the hose just curls up. Some trunk lines may stretch out to over 100’ in distance, which means 15’ would be cleaned and 85’ would go untouched. In ductwork rounds the shop vac hose can usually only reach up to 2 ½ ‘ before the shop vac hose gets stuck. 90 degree turns will almost always make the shop vac end its descent in cleaning down a pipe because the shop vac hose cannot be turned without physical intervention. A greater risk of disconnecting pipes occurs due to the physical nature of the contact cleaning method. Also if any home security wiring, telephone wires or low voltage wiring is ever present in the ductwork, the physical nature of the contact cleaning method in air duct cleaning will increase the chances in breaking such wires, whereas air washing will not compromise such wires in any shape way or form. Most contact cleaning companies will recommend that you should have your air ducts cleaned out every year or two, because they know they left enough debris in the ductwork to try to get at it again in a year or two.

Well there you have it folks. Both common methods in air duct cleaning really do have advantages and disadvantages. I attempted to write this article as fair and balanced as I could using as many facts based on past experiences that I have experienced in performing over 10,000 residential and over 2000 commercial air duct cleanings using both methods of cleaning. Based on my past experiences the advantages and disadvantages in both methods of air duct cleaning that I wrote about are very much so true in my experiences. There are many different cleaning machines and tools out there, which means’ that the chore in selecting a thorough air duct cleaner, can be daunting. I must say that experienced technicians in performing an air duct cleaning service can go along way, especially when a company is committed in investing in the more expensive forms of machinery and specialized tools as Lucky Duct, LLC is. In fact our least experienced technician that would show up to your home or office has 3000 + residential air duct cleanings and 850 commercial air duct cleanings performed. Lucky Duct, LLC strives to take better care of our people in pay and benefits than most other companies which is why we have been so fortunate in attracting some of the best tech’s out there. Cool machines and tools help, but experienced people can really make the difference in a project result as well.

Visit www.luckyduct.net and enter the air ducts page to view a ton of information on air duct cleaning!