About Me and the Scrap Yard

Saving energy and fuel is essential nowadays, and watching how you use your tools, as well as which tools you use, can get you some big savings. But you have to be careful where you cut your usage because sometimes using more fuel prevents other problems from starting up. With air compressors, you have a choice between start-stop compressors that have an on/off switch, and continuous-run compressors, which run constantly. Both have their places in workshops for different reasons.

Saving Fuel

Stopping the compressor will stop it from using fuel, so this is a good version to get if you want to really conserve. But if you plan to use the compressor a lot, you may actually want to look at continuous-run compressors. When you start and stop a compressor a lot, you can cause the motor to overheat, which could damage the compressor or even spark a fire. Rather than risk that, using the extra fuel to have a continuous-run compressor could be a safer move.

Stopping Noise

If you can turn the compressor off, that will (obviously) reduce noise. That reduces the amount of sound waves that your ears have to deal with and can help preserve your hearing. Note that you should wear hearing protection when the compressor is on, unless you have gotten a very quiet one. However, there will be times when you have to take off the hearing protection. Stopping the compressor allows you to do that without putting your hearing at risk if the motor is loud.

Convenience

A continuous-run compressor is also going to be a lot more convenient because you don't have to keep starting and stopping it. If you do a lot of work that just can't be interrupted, that continuous-run compressor is going to work better for you. If you want to use a start-stop compressor and save fuel in this case, try to schedule the non-interruptible work in blocks so that you're not spending the entire day moving between that project and other work.

Go to a hardware store or a compressor distributor and find out how much fuel each model uses. Then take a look at all the times you need the compressor to be on, and you'll get a better idea of which models may work well for you. Remember, too, that you can rent compressors to get an idea of how each one actually works in your shop. Contact a company like Kruman Equipment Company for more information.