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Air Compressor Stopped Working? What to Do if Your Air Compressor Won’t Turn On

Air compressors have many uses, including running power tools, industrial equipment, and fire suppression systems. If your air compressor stops working or won’t turn on, it could leave your New York City property without a valuable and possibly life-saving service. Here are some tips from the pros at Antler Pumps about what do if your air compressor stopped working.

Air Compressors: The Basics

Uses for air compressors

Air compressors convert power into potential energy in the form of compressed air. The air can then be called into use for a wide variety of applications, including:

• Diving
• Powering pneumatic tools (especially construction and auto repair)
• HVAC
• Industrial processes
• Fire suppression systems
• Tank filling
• Supplying air to tires
• Airbrushing
• Snowmaking at ski resorts
• Powering medical and dental instruments
• Agriculture (crop spraying, dairy machines, etc.)
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Dry cleaning

Depending on their use, air compressors may be powered by electricity, gas, diesel fuel, vehicle engines, or hydraulic ports. They are typically divided into three categories: consumer grade, professional grade, and industrial grade. At Antler Pumps, we mainly encounter air compressors in industrial uses and fire suppression.

Types of air compressor pumps

There are different types of air compressors for different uses, such as rotary screw, reciprocating piston, and centrifugal compressors (utilized in larger applications). There are also two kinds of air compressor pumps: oil injected and oil-less. Oil-less pumps are louder but known for delivering better air quality. You may have seen these used in air compressors on small construction sites as they are more portable. Oil lubricated pumps, on the other hand, are heavier and are found in air compressors designed for larger commercial settings.

Steps to Take if Your Air Compressor Stopped Working or Won’t Turn On

Try resetting the unit or the pump

Some air compressors or their pumps have reset switches. If so, try using these to see if the compressor starts up again.

Check power supply and wiring

Air compressors can take a lot of abuse, especially in more sizable properties. It’s possible the wiring to the compressor is worn, broken, or chewed by rodents. Ensure all the wires and connections are sound if your compressor won’t start.

Make sure the compressor is plugged directly into an outlet and not into a power strip. If you are using an extension cord, it should be less than 25 feet long to minimize resistance and should be of a sufficient gauge (at least 10 gauge, depending on the size of the compressor and what it’s powering).

Also, check to see if the compressor has triggered your circuit breaker. It could be that the power to the unit has been cut. This could be due to a problem with your wiring or electrical panel, or it could be insufficient amperage to supply a compressor. But it could also be due to the air compressor itself overheating (see below).

A quick bit of detective work will sort this out. Try plugging something else into the same outlet and see if it trips your breaker. If it does, the problem is not with the compressor but with the power source. If only the compressor trips the breaker, the issue is with the compressor.

Examine the power switch

The power switch can fail if there’s no contact between the switch and the circuitry inside the compressor. Does the switch feel loose or like it’s not connected to anything? It may simply need tightening or reconnecting, especially if the compressor has been moved around a lot or exposed to a high amount of vibration. If tightening up the connection between the power switch and the interior doesn’t work, it might be that the switch needs replacing.

One last thing to try here: change the pressure and see if the automatic run sensor failed momentarily. Hopefully, the change in pressure brings the power back. If not, it may be that the sensor needs replacing, interior wiring needs repair, or the unit itself needs to be replaced.

Evaluate the pressure switch

The pressure switch determines when the tank will fill with air. You will need to do a couple of things to check this part.

First, unplug the compressor, drain the tank, and then close the drain. Listen carefully as someone else turns the compressor back on. Does the pressure switch move or do you hear a click? If not, the switch may need replacement. It may also need to be swapped out if the compressor comes back on but the tank never has enough pressure to operate the way you need it to.

If you hear a click and see the points move on the switch but the compressor still isn’t working, the pressure switch is functional, and the problem is likely with the compressor motor.

Check for overheating

After trying several of these fixes, your air compressor may start up again. Why? It may be that you hit on a solution with one of the suggestions above. Or, it could be that your compressor overheated and while you were tinkering with it, it had a chance to cool down enough to restart. Maybe it was a one-time blip, and it won’t happen again. But if it goes out again when it has been running for a while, be suspicious of overheating, especially if anything feels hot to the touch or you smell anything unusual.

Consider oil problems

As mentioned above, some air compressors need oil to function. If the unit is either low on oil through normal use or because there is a leak, it won’t run, similar to your car’s engine. You should be able to check the oil level to make sure it’s high enough. Also, look around the area to see if there are any obvious signs of leaks.

You might also need an oil change, again, like your car’s lubrication. Be careful if you do this yourself, as having the proper viscosity is vital to the function of your air compressor’s pump.

Occasionally, a compressor pump will not run if the compressor is tilted too far off of a level surface. The oil runs to one side and tricks the pump into thinking the oil supply is low. The easy solution to this is to restore the unit to a level position.

Why Pump Experts Should Be Part of Your Property Management Team

Make your job easier

If you have tried all the solutions suggested above because your air compressor stopped working, and it still won’t turn on, we’re happy to come take a look at it. We may be able to fix the pump on-site or quickly repair it at our own in-house repair shop.

We can also have a look if you notice any of these signs of serious compressor problems:

• Compressor keeps triggering the circuit breaker
• Unusual or loud noise with the compressor
• Excess vibration from the air compressor or pump
• Air compressor intermittently stops working or starts reluctantly
• Compressor fails during a fire suppression check (definitely needs repair ASAP)

Call Antler Pumps at 212-534-2500 or use our online message form to schedule an appointment. We will help you get your air compressor running again as quickly as possible.