Air Compressor Maintenance: 4 Must-Do Tasks for Farm Safety

Farm & Garden

Air Compressor Maintenance: 4 Must-Do Tasks for Farm Safety

by Daniel Johnson - June 7, 2025

Air compressor maintenance is essential to keeping your farm tools running safely and efficiently. Maintaining your air compressor helps extend its lifespan, prevent dangerous breakdowns, and keeps your pneumatic tools in top shape. Whether you’re running a portable or stationary unit, proper air compressor maintenance should be part of your regular farm equipment checklist.

It’s probably isn’t something that you’ve thought of lately, at least not on the same frequency as maintaining your generator, tractor or farm truck. But air compressors can do all kinds of important work on the farm, so it’s probably high time you gave your air compressor a bit of attention and TLC. Not just for maximum performance, but also for safety’s sake—these are powerful machines and misuse or mistreatment can cause the risk of injury.

Note: We’re not looking at inflators here. Inflators are those smaller handy tools that you might keep in the back of a vehicle for emergency use. They easily pump up a flat tire, but lack an air holding tank.

1. Drain Moisture Daily After Each Use

When you run your air compressor and fill it up, the air inside the tank is, well, compressed. This means that there is more air stored inside the tank than would normally be the case if it were simply open to the atmosphere around you. While compressed air can be utilized for all kinds of useful farm chores, a side effect is that moisture has a tendency to condense and collect inside the tank. While a little bit of water in the bottom of the tank isn’t really a big deal, if left there day after day it can begin to oxidize—in other words, it rusts the bottom of your compressor’s tank. If enough time goes by, the moisture can weaken the walls of the tank, causing an eventual air leak, or, even worse, an explosion when the compressed air rapidly breaks through the weak spot.

Luckily, you can prevent this problem by draining the tank daily after each use. This is different from simply letting the air pressure in the tank go back to zero. The compressor will have a small drain plug on the bottom of the air tank, which can be unscrewed, allowing the moisture buildup to release.

2. Clean or Replace Air Compressor Filters

Some air compressors have an air filter to prevent dust from interfering with the machine’s work. This is especially needed in farm conditions where dust can be prevalent. Cleaning the filter is quite easy and takes little time; just vacuum or wash the filter as indicated in the manual. Changing the filter is simply a matter of swapping the existing filter with an identical new one.

3. Change Air Compressor Oil Regularly

Some electric air compressors need oil to lubricate moving parts. If yours is such a model, you’ll want to keep an eye on the oil level and change it occasionally in accordance with the manual. Take care to replace the oil with the manufacturer’s recommended type.

4. Match Air Pressure (PSI) to Tool Requirements

Another issue to watch is the maximum PSI rating of any tools you connect to your compressor. You might have a slew of tools that are super useful around the farm, like air nailers for framing and building, or small blower attachments for cleaning hay dust or farm debris off of your equipment and farm machinery. Each of these tiny implements will have a manufacturer’s maximum PSI rating displayed on it. You don’t want to supply air pressure higher than this, or you risk damage or injury if the tool breaks under the strain. You can control the PSI output of your compressor with one of the control dials. Even if you have more PSI than this stored in reserve in the tank, you can separately control just how much air pressure is released out the hose and to the tool.

🛠️ FAQ: Air Compressor Maintenance

Q: How often should I perform air compressor maintenance?

A: Basic air compressor maintenance, like draining moisture and checking PSI, should be done after each use. Other tasks, such as changing the oil or cleaning air filters, may be done monthly or as recommended in the manufacturer’s manual.

Q: What happens if I don’t drain the air compressor tank?

A: Failing to drain moisture from the tank can lead to internal rusting. Over time, this weakens the tank walls and increases the risk of leaks or even tank failure. Draining the tank daily is a key part of safe and effective air compressor maintenance.

Q: Do all air compressors need oil changes?

A: Not all compressors require oil. Oil-lubricated compressors do need regular oil checks and changes, while oil-free models are designed to run without lubrication. Always consult your owner’s manual for your model’s specific air compressor maintenance needs.

Q: How can I tell if my air filter needs to be cleaned or replaced?

A: If your compressor is running less efficiently or you’re working in dusty environments, check the air filter. A dirty or clogged filter reduces airflow and can cause wear on internal parts. Cleaning or replacing filters regularly helps extend the life of your compressor.

Q: Can I use any PSI setting with my tools?

A: No, each air tool has a maximum PSI rating. Supplying too much pressure can damage the tool or cause injury. As part of your air compressor maintenance routine, always check the tool PSI requirements and adjust the regulator accordingly.

Air Compressor Maintenance: Final Thoughts

Proper air compressor maintenance doesn’t take much time, but it can make a big difference in how your equipment performs and how long it lasts. By draining moisture, cleaning filters, changing the oil, and monitoring PSI levels, you’ll help prevent breakdowns, improve safety, and get more reliable performance from your compressor. Make these simple steps part of your regular routine, and your air compressor will be ready to handle any job the farm throws at it.

This article about air compressor maintenance was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.

Daniel Johnson is a freelance writer and professional photographer whose photos have appeared thousands of times in books, calendars, and magazines. When not working, Dan enjoys spending time with his four horses. Daniel Johnson and his sister, Samantha, have collaborated on a number of rural-living guidebooks, including How to Raise Rabbits and Beginner’s Guide to Beekeeping. Both are 4-H alumni and live on the family farm, Fox Hill Farm, in far northern Wisconsin. Daniel is a professional photographer whose work can be seen at foxhillphoto.com.