Mounting water filter away from air compressor

[Primitive Pete]

Looking for best way to mount water filter away from compressor. Am told water traps mounted on the compressor do not work as hot moist air will pass through filter. Anyone have luck using in-line filters or mounting filter on coiled tubing?

 

[whistler66]

Re: Mounting water filter away from air compressor

I don't know the answer but I hope somebody else responds. I have a water filter mounted after a 6-8 inch solid line coming from my compressor and it absolutely does nothing. Maybe a little condensation in the bottom but that's it. There's a line on the filter that tells you when to empty it......no need to worry about that thing it evaporates faster than it accumulates. I will say it's not an expensive thing as it come from one of the Large National Lumber/Hardware Stores. I just wrote it off a being JUNK and you get what you pay for.

 

[yabuoy]

Re: Mounting water filter away from air compressor

You can mount it at the middle or the end of the hoseline if you really want to, not that I would want to haul an air filter around at the end. I have a Craftsman filter mounted directly to the ball valve/exit line of my tank and it seems to do a great job. I live in the desert so the air is drier out here, and when I open the valve to feed the line I see a bunch of moisture get filtered.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Mounting water filter away from air compressor

For a low cost home system use two air hoses with the water trap between them, the first hose can be coiled in a 5 gallon bucket of cold water. This will cool the hot air coming right out of the compressor and allow the water to condensate in the hose before it reaches the filter. If the air is still hot when it reaches the filter it may be of little or no help in removing water.

 

[Primitive Pete]

Re: Mounting water filter away from air compressor

Anyone have experience using a Desiccant Air Dryer? Plan to use the coiled hose in 5 gal water bucket method to condense water before the filter. Wondering if desiccant dryer will be necessary. They are about $12 and need to be replaced when unit turns a different color.

 

[PS94]

Re: Mounting water filter away from air compressor

Desiccant is probably your best bet, and if you're painting a lot, you can get regenerative desiccant dryers. Adsorption....There's really nice refrigerant units too, but are pretty $$$

 

[BWT]

Re: Mounting water filter away from air compressor

I just use a napa filter (the wall mount kind that you bleed off after each use) that is fed by a 50' hose from the compressor. I don't remember what I paid for it; was roughly 7 years ago and it still works like a champ.. NEVER had an issue with moisture in the lines (post filtered) and after a full day of running, typically bleed off a 1/4 cup or so of water ( at least in the Summer)..

 

[Primitive Pete]

Re: Mounting water filter away from air compressor

Having second thoughts on using coiled tubing in 5 gal water pail. It sounds good but can not figure out a way to get the condensed water in the tubing to flow back into the compressor tank. Do not want to uncoil and drain tubing every time compressor is used. Any thoughts?

Second option is to coil 25' of 3/8" air line hose horizontally on a shelf above the compressor with output attached to a wall mounted air filter above. I know 40 ft of coiled copper tubing would work better but expensive.

Question - Any thoughts on 25 ft coiled air line hose working? Have another 15 ft or so of 3/8" hose to put in the loop if needed.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Mounting water filter away from air compressor

The water is caught in the trap, very little or none will be in the hose.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mounting water filter away from air compressor

Having second thoughts on using coiled tubing in 5 gal water pail. It sounds good but can not figure out a way to get the condensed water in the tubing to flow back into the compressor tank. Do not want to uncoil and drain tubing every time compressor is used. Any thoughts?

Second option is to coil 25' of 3/8" air line hose horizontally on a shelf above the compressor with output attached to a wall mounted air filter above. I know 40 ft of coiled copper tubing would work better but expensive.

Question - Any thoughts on 25 ft coiled air line hose working? Have another 15 ft or so of 3/8" hose to put in the loop if needed.

Ayuh,... When we plumbed our Shop, we ran all the lines, Up, 'n away from the compressor...
Water naturally flows back to the tank...

Wherever there's an air tap, the line runs down to a "T" where the air is taken out the side of the "T", 'n the water falls into the bottom leg, as a water trap..

Only 1 of the taps is set up with a dryer for paintin'...

With all the lines runnin' up from the tank, very little water is in any of the lines, 'n the dryer works extremely well...

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Mounting water filter away from air compressor

Ayuh,... When we plumbed our Shop, we ran all the lines, Up, 'n away from the compressor...
Water naturally flows back to the tank...

Wherever there's an air tap, the line runs down to a "T" where the air is taken out the side of the "T", 'n the water falls into the bottom leg, as a water trap..

Only 1 of the taps is set up with a dryer for paintin'...

With all the lines runnin' up from the tank, very little water is in any of the lines, 'n the dryer works extremely well...

We did the same thing.. plumb up then over ..then down to the coupler on the wall with a T. The drain leg is about 2' with a valve (which I use to flush the air instead of running it through the water trap ).

Our water traps are set just before the Coupler used for the hose to gun.

We also have an OIL trap set 3'ish away from our compressors. .. Then the secondary water/oil trap is set just before the "gun line".

Basically you should have in a DIY system of compressor then 15' hose then oil/water trap .. then hose to gun.

Dont forget to drain your compressor tanks at the bottom drain Before you push air through your hoses/pipes.

Also its a good Idea to Drain your compressor tank to 0 PSI when not in use. .. dont just shut it off .. release the compressed air when done using it. ( Kinda like a garden hose .. you use it..shut off the water..then pull the trigger to Relieve the pressure in the hose and the nozzle ).

YD.