Check valves installed ?

by Roger Bates
(St. Johns, Michigan)

We have 4 air compressors in our shop, all are piped into one system. My question is should they have check valves installed to prevent one unit from pressuring another unit. 3 units are piston type one unit is screw type. The screw type is our main unit others turn on as more air is needed.

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Bill says...

Roger, I would have a check valve installed in each of the lines from each compressor before they reach the common manifold. As you point out, you don't want air from a running compressor flowing back down the line to a stopped air compressor, which has it's unloader valve opened to atmosphere.

Cheers,

Bill