Dew Point Monitoring in Medical Air Systems

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From COVID-19 wards to neonatal units, hospitals must be diligent in monitoring the dew point in their medical air systems. If the dew point in a medical compressed air system is not continuously monitored and adequate steps are not taken to remove water, microorganisms can grow, having serious health implications for patients.

What Is the Dew Point?
The dew point is the temperature to which air must be cooled, at constant pressure, for water vapor to begin to condense to liquid water. When the dew point temperature has been reached, the air is fully saturated with water vapor. Any temperature drop will result in water in the system.

Risks Associated with Not Monitoring the Dew Point
Allowing dew point levels to go unchecked in medical air and gas systems can lead to the growth of Legionella bacteria, which, when inhaled, can cause serious and even deadly lung infections. In addition, high moisture levels in the medical air system can shut down patient ventilators, leading to physiological harm.

NFPA 99 Dew Point Requirements
NFPA 99 details very specific dew point requirements for both Level 1 and Level 2 Medical Air Systems.
• The medical air dryer must deliver air at a maximum dew point below the frost point 0° C (32° F) at any level of demand
• Dryers must be capable of delivering the specified dew point under peak demand to ensure that even during crisis times, the dew point can be maintained
• The dew point must be monitored upstream at the dryer’s control panel and downstream after the pressure regulators
• If the pressure dew point exceeds 4° C (39° F), an alarm should be activated

Air Dryers for Medical Air Systems
There are two main types of dryers that are used to eliminate moisture in medical compressed air systems—refrigerated air dryers and desiccant air dryers. Desiccant dryers are generally the preferred choice for healthcare facilities, in part because they work well under low-flow conditions that sometimes occur at night.

Compressed Air Dew Point Monitoring Equipment
The ENMET MedAir 2200 Compressed Airline Monitor is designed for continuous real-time monitoring of medical compressed air systems in hospitals and medical facilities. The instrument is UL and CSA certified and is capable of monitoring dew point as well as carbon monoxide, oxygen deficiency and carbon dioxide.

ENMET MedAir 2200 Compressed Airline Monitor

Lewis Systems is a medical air solutions and service provider for healthcare facilities in the Southeast and an authorized distributor of ENMET products. If you need to replace existing medical air equipment or install a new system, contact us or call your nearest Lewis Systems location in North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia to discuss your needs.

Air Compressor Setup and Installation Guide

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air compressor setup tools

Once you’ve selected a quality air compressor for your business, it’s important to make sure the equipment is installed properly. Where’s the right place for it? What other equipment do you need to keep the compressor running at its best? Considering this air compressor installation guide before your machine arrives can help your air compressor perform efficiently and last as long as possible.

Top 6 Air Compressor Installation Considerations

  1. Location
  2. Ventilation
  3. Clearance Around Equipment
  4. Electrical Access
  5. System Configuration
  6. Maintenance Plan

Location

When possible, we recommend installing compressed air systems indoors, enclosed in their own clean, dry room near your end use. Keeping the compressor separate helps to control air quality, avoid overheating issues, minimize the chance of injury and reduce productivity losses from noise. Indoor systems are also not subject to the moisture and weather issues that outdoor systems face.   

Ventilation

Indoor compressors need to be in a well-ventilated space. Air must be vented out of the building away from dangers like gasoline or propane fumes and paint spray filter outlets. The ventilation system should be able to turn over the CFM of the entire unit, including the compressor and dryer. This information can be found in the compressor and dryer engineering data sheets.

Clearance Around Equipment

All air compressor equipment should have a minimum of three feet of clearance on each side. This is important for free air cooling and heat exchange on a daily basis as well as maintenance in the future. Every air compressor is different, so ask your service professional how much access space will be needed above and around your particular model. They’ll need to plan for regular maintenance and removal of the motor or airend later in the service cycle.

Electrical Access

Whether indoors or outdoors, your compressor will need access to electricity. Before plugging it in for the first time, ensure that your compressor voltage is compliant with the socket to avoid blown fuses or fires.

Compressed Air System Configuration

Every company’s needs are unique, but when installing a compressor system, we generally recommend that systems include a wet receiver between the compressor and air dryer and a dry receiver after the dryer. The compressor should have a moisture separator. The dryer should have a pre-filter and an after filter. And the receivers should be sized based on the CFM of the compressors. Below is a typical example of an air compressor setup diagram.

air compressor setup diagram

Air Compressor Maintenance Plan

The most effective way to avoid breakdowns in the future is to have a preventive maintenance plan in place when the machine is installed. To learn more about the maintenance that needs to be performed and how often, view our basic maintenance checklist.

As a professional air compressor installation company with more than 40 years of experience, Lewis Systems can help make sure your system is set up for success. Feel free to contact us at 800.222.4553 with any installation concerns or questions.

Air Compressor Preventive Maintenance Quick Checklist

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air compressor maintenance checklist

There is no getting around the fact that air compressors are expensive pieces of machinery. It’s in your best interest to proactively protect that investment. Professional maintenance will always be important to keep your compressor running smoothly and efficiently, but there are a few basic things you can do to help extend the life of your compressed air equipment and avoid air compressor safety hazards.

Maintenance Checklist for Compressed Air Systems

  • Check the air filter weekly
  • Change the oil filter every 1,000 hours
  • Keep your aftercooler/oil cooler clean
  • Change your air/oil separator every 4,000 hours or annually
  • Request an oil analysis every 2,000 hours
Download Your Air Compressor Maintenance Checklist

Air Filter Maintenance

The intake air filter is your first line of defense in protecting your compressor and its lubricant. A clean element will help your compressor run cooler and use less energy. A dirty, clogged filter element, on the other hand, reduces efficiency and lubricant life. The interval for changing your air filter is dependent on the ambient environment, but you should check your air filter on a weekly basis.

Oil Filter Maintenance

If you don’t change your oil filter element, you will damage your industrial air compressor. This inexpensive part removes dirt and abrasives from the lubricant. When changed regularly, it will extend the life of your lubricant, reduce wear on moving parts and protect the air/oil separator on rotary screw compressors. A general rule is to change the oil filter every 1,000 hours, but some compressors utilize long-life oil filters, so check the manual for appropriate maintenance intervals for your machine.

Aftercooler/Oil Cooler Maintenance

Always check for dirt or particle accumulation on your compressed air system’s coolers. As exterior surfaces become clogged, dirty and damaged, coolers lose their ability to effectively dissipate heat. Increased running temperatures can damage your compressor and reduce the life of synthetic lubricants.

Air/Oil Separator Maintenance

For oil-flooded rotary screw compressors, the air/oil separator provides the final removal of oil from the air stream. Contaminant and particulate buildup in the element will cause an increase in pressure drop across the separator. As a rule of thumb, every 2 PSIG increase in pressure drop raises BHP (brake horsepower) use by 1%. Servicing your air/oil separator will also keep your oil carryover low and reduce lubricant consumption.

Oil Analysis

Synthetic lubricants do a great job of protecting your compressor and holding up in harsh environments, but they don’t last forever. We recommend scheduling a professional analysis every 2,000 hours to catch any issues before they become serious. As synthetic lubricants break down, they can become corrosive and create varnishes, so being proactive in this area will save a lot of money in the long run. Lewis Systems offers free analysis on all lubricants that are purchased from us.

Too often, air compressor maintenance is put off or overlooked for other pressing business matters. But preventive maintenance is significantly more affordable than reactive maintenance. Lewis Systems has dedicated service technicians who can work with you to complete this air compressor maintenance checklist and any other maintenance your equipment may need. To learn more about how to perform maintenance safely in the workplace, check out our 10 Air Compressor Safety Tips. 

Air Compressor Safety: 10 Tips to Avoid Injury in the Workplace

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Air compressors are complicated pieces of machinery with many potential safety hazards. Like all high-powered machinery, air compressors require safety measures to be in place to protect operators and other employees. We’ve created an air compressor safety checklist to help keep your business a safe place to work during compressor operations, repairs and maintenance.

Air Compressor Safety Checklist

  1. Power Down Fully Before Repairs: Before performing any troubleshooting or maintenance to your compressor, shut down the machine, disconnect it from the power source and ensure the air pressure has been relieved. Automatically controlled compressors can start at any time.
  2. Allow Time for the Compressor to Cool Down: Hot compressor parts, coolants and lubricants may cause burns if touched during or shortly after usage. Additionally, adding or changing oil or fuel while the unit is still hot could cause the unit to smoke or even catch fire.
  3. Drain the Compressor Tank Often: Draining the tank helps to prevent it from rusting and exploding. A rusty tank puts all employees working in the area in danger.  
  4. Keep Hands, Fingers, Hair and Clothing Away: An air compressor is a piece of rotating equipment that can quickly grab loose clothing or cause serious injury to extremities. Cooling fans, drive couplings and belts are all areas where extreme caution should be used.  
  5. Check the Electrical Outlet: Air compressors must be plugged into a grounded electrical outlet or they run the risk of electrical damage or fire.
  6. Choose the Right Compressor Location: Compressed air fumes can be hazardous if not in a well-ventilated space. The area should also have clean, dry inlet air to avoid rust and electrical issues.
  7. Do Not Use PVC Pipe: The use of PVC piping in compressed air applications is not safe or approved by OSHA. It can crack, burst and send pieces of shrapnel flying through your plant.
  8. Secure Tools and Hoses Before Starting the Compressor: Before operation, check pneumatic tools to make sure the trigger is not engaged and ensure hoses are secured. Loose hoses can fly off or whip uncontrollably, causing injury.
  9. Wear Protective Gear: Always wear ear and eye protection. Exposure to loud machinery like compressors can cause permanent hearing loss and flying debris can cause significant vision issues.
  10. Take Compressed Air Seriously: Compressed air hoses or tools should never be pointed at yourself or anyone else for any reason. Even low pressures can cause bodily injury, including ruptured organs. Industrial compressed air is also not intended for breathing air. Breathing air requires approved filtration, treatment and monitoring equipment that meets strict health and safety standards.

Keep in mind, even if you’ve used air compressors for years, there is valuable information in the manual about how to operate your specific model safely and efficiently. Explosions and fires occur every year from compressors that have safety devices bypassed. If your compressor’s safety devices have been bypassed or are not working properly or you are concerned about the general safety of your equipment, contact our factory trained service team at 800.222.4553. We have many replacement parts in stock and can repair issues as needed.

Maintaining Air Compressor Performance and Efficiency in Winter

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air compressor

Frozen lines. Cracked pipes. Slow starting compressors. Or worse, compressors that won’t start at all. Winter can be difficult on compressed air systems—even here in the South. Most air compressor equipment should be kept above 40º F to maintain efficient operation and avoid costly breakdowns. As we enter the coldest months of the year, it’s important to winterize your system and know what maintenance needs to be performed throughout the winter season to protect your investment.

Why Is Winter a Problem for Air Compressors?

  • Moisture:

The process of compressing air naturally creates moisture. If not removed, even a small amount of condensate can freeze in the drains, tank, pipes or other parts of the system. This frozen condensate expands to create blockages, warping and cracking that prevent the compressor from functioning properly.

  • Lubrication:

During the cold winter months, lubricants often thicken and provide less value to the motor. Sludge-like oil can cause wear and tear on equipment, increase energy usage, trip circuit breakers and limit performance.

Compressors located outside or in poorly insulated rooms are particularly vulnerable to winter condensate and lubricant issues, but there are ways to minimize your chances of suddenly needing emergency service. 

Winterizing Your Compressed Air System

Having a professional compressed air company perform winter maintenance before issues arise is the first step to protecting your equipment. They’ll assess the following:

Condensate Drains: All system drains should be checked for clogs that could cause moisture to accumulate and freeze. It’s important to remember the drains and bowls outside and consider applying heat trace tape to any drain lines that are exposed to the elements.

Weather Stripping and Insulation: All weather stripping and insulation should be inspected and replaced if damaged or missing.

Heating: A cabinet heater may be able to be added to help preheat lubricant. Or you might need to provide ambient heating safely away from the compressor. If your compressor is outside, heat lamps may help to keep controls from freezing.

Filters: Clean, properly working filters are essential for removing dust, oil and moisture from your system. Additionally, ice and water can accumulate on clogged filters.

Air Dryers: Dryers can be especially beneficial in cold temperatures. Adding a new dryer could help avoid moisture buildup on system components.

Air Receivers: Compressed air receivers should be inspected to avoid condensation from settling and freezing at the bottom of the tank.

Lubricant: Lubricant should be checked for flow. Thick or icy lubricant will not properly lubricate the compressor and may reduce the life of the system.

Heat Recovery: Believe it or not, it may be possible to heat your compressor room and equipment with the heat given off by your system itself.

Ongoing Winter Maintenance for Compressed Air Systems

Keeping your system running smoothly during freezing temperatures goes well beyond initial winterizing efforts and will require a time investment on your part:

  • Before starting the air compressor, always inspect the system for moisture and ice
  • Drain condensate daily if you do not have an automatic drainage system (even if you do, check often for obstructions)
  • Check oil levels regularly as many compressors use more oil in the winter
  • Inspect for leaks often

If you haven’t yet winterized your system or have questions about how to best protect your compressed air equipment from being impacted by cold weather, contact us or call 800.222.4553. Our factory-trained technicians are pros at keeping you up and running.