Compressor Won't Build Pressure

Compressor will not build pressure?

Many of the questions about troubleshooting compressors I get have to do with "why won't my compressor build pressure?"

An air compressor that will not start is not the same issue as one that will not build pressure. Here is info on compressors that will not start.

This page addresses the issue of compressors that start properly, but reach a pressure level in the tank, and then continue to run, and run, and run, but the pressure never goes any higher.

Here are some things to check.

Power Supply

Do not underestimate the importance of a clean power supply.

If you are starving your air compressor of enough power supply, it is possible that the motor can generate a certain level of pressure in your tank, and then not exceed that pressure as there just isn't enough electricity reaching the motor to allow it to work hard enough.

If you must use an extension cord, make sure it is heavy enough to feed the compressor over the length of the cord. It is much preferred that you plug the power cord that came with the compressor right into the socket.

Clean power also means that nothing else that might be powered by that same electrical circuit is trying to run at the same time your compressor is. Compressors will run best with full electrical supply from a dedicated circuit, over the shortest electrical cord possible!

Does Your Compressor Leak?

Let your compressor come up to whatever pressure it will. If the pressure reaches a certain level and then won't go past that pressure level, then either turn it off or unplug it.

Listen! Watch the tank gauge.

What you are checking for is an air leak that you won't be able to hear when the compressor is running.

Monitor the tank gauge to see if the pressure is dropping. If it is, the leak may be bleeding off enough air that the compressor can't build tank pressure past a certain point.

Another spot to check carefully is the unloader valve. The unloader valve should burp a bit of compressed air when it reaches cut out pressure the compressor stops, but it should not have air bleeding out of it all of the time. If that is happening, this may be the reason that your air compressor cannot compress air past a certain pressure level.

If the unloader valve is leaking, you need to get it fixed.

The Valves

Compressors have valves that allow air to enter the cylinder area when the piston is moving down, and allow the air to be directed into the tank line when the compressor piston is on the compression stroke.

Low cost compressors have low cost reed type or flapper type valves which, at least according to the numbers of persons that report valve issues on this site, don't last very long.

If either the intake valve or pressure valve fails (breaks or fails to seat properly due to debris) then your compressor will run all day and never build pressure. The valve problem may also not appear until a certain pressure level is reached, at which point, the valve problem manifests itself.

Intake Valve

If it is the intake valve that has failed, then the compressor will draw air in when the piston descends, but then that air will blow right back by the intake valve when the piston is in the compression stroke. Air always takes the route of least resistance, so some of that air may be entering the tank, which is why the compressor reaches a threshold pressure, beyond which it won't go.

Pressure Valve

If it is the pressure valve that is the source of the problem, air will flow into the tank through the pressure valve on the compression stroke, but then be drawn right back out of the tank as the piston descends to try and draw more air in through the intake valve. Again, air always follows the path of least resistance, and if it is easier for the air in the tank to flow back out through the pressure valve than be draw in to the cylinder via the intake valve, then that is what the air will do.

Quick Check

Remove the intake filter and feel if air is moving in and out of that opening. If so, your intake valve is suspect.

For most of us, a failed reed / flapper valve(s) mean a trip to the compressor repair shop, as it will mean tearing down the compressor pump to try and identify the failure, and then the search will begin for compressor parts.

The Gasket Issue

The flow path of the intake air is often only separated from the flow path of the pressurized air to the tank by a gasket.

Gaskets do wear out. Good quality gaskets cost more money than cheap ones and it stands to reason that you probably are not getting top quality parts in a $200 DIY type air compressor.

It is possible that your compressor is working fine, but as it is cycling, the air is flowing back and forth across a failed gasket inside the pump. And, that may not happen until the pressure in the tank is high enough to force an opening through a normally sound gasket. You need to tear the compressor pump down to check.

Economics

Let us consider the economics of compressor repair.

To change out the reed valves on a small DIY type air compressor will take about one hour of shop time, according to the repair depot I spoke to. What do they charge; $40 / hour, ... more?

Then there are the parts themselves. Many of the DIY type air compressors come from another country, and sourcing parts for these units is time consuming, if parts are available at all.

So, do you spend the $75 or more dollars to fix your $150 compressor or not?

Forum / Questions

If the tips on this page do not provide the answer for you, tell us about it on this forum page about why compressors will not build pressure. We'll see if we can help you out.