compressor: empty the tank?

[jim-00-4.6]

I just got a compressor for christmas.
My friend insists that emptying the tank of air (and draining) is a MUST after every use.
He never leaves pressure in the tank overnight.
I have another friend who just leaves it alone, full of air, but he does use the drain thing about monthly to get the water out.

Being a newbie at compressor ownership, some advice would be handy.

If it matters, I have a Husky 20-gallon compressor from Home Depot.

 

[apg]

I always drain down to try to get rid of any moisture that can (and does) accumulate in the tank. Now if you had a shop-sized compressor that was used daily, you could bleed it daily without emptying the whole thing, but a friend who has just such a setup with a couple of dozen connections throughout his foreign car service place, drains it nightly.

 

[az_max]

I set the bottom valve to slightly bleep off pressure. It takes the moisture with it. There are water trap kits that will purge when the head compression release is triggered (end of compressor cycle).

 

[Joey]

I drain mine once a month or so... unless it is real humid and I am using it alot in the summer... than daily.

 

[reka12]

Replace bottom drain valve with a fitting, section of hose and a valve. Bleed water out once a month or so. Those crappy shop compressor drain valves will either get stuck closed and you break the tangs off or leak. Plus they are inconvenient and discourage maintenance. I leave mine pressurized.

 

[ptschram]

I have a Harbor Freight automatic drain on mine.

In this weather, it sometimes freezes with the first cycle of the day but that clears up quickly.

I wear compressors out, but have never had a tank rust out.

 

[singingcamel]

I drain mine at the end of every day.. They'll rust and corrode if you don't.

 

[Durt D1ver]

I have a Harbor Freight automatic drain on mine.

In this weather, it sometimes freezes with the first cycle of the day but that clears up quickly.

I wear compressors out, but have never had a tank rust out.

I got a compressor for Christmas also. I also picked up one of those automatic drains from HF. I haven't finished hooking the thing up yet. Still have to pull the wire to it.

 

[ptschram]

I got a compressor for Christmas also. I also picked up one of those automatic drains from HF. I haven't finished hooking the thing up yet. Still have to pull the wire to it.

throw the plastic tubing away. Use presto-lok fittings and 1/4" copper tubing.

 

[group captain mandrake]

You guys are making me feel ashamed of myself: my compressor is 15+ years old and I have only drained the tank a couple of times.

 

[flyfisher11]

I drain my IR everytime I'm done with a job. If I know I'm going to continue the next day I leave it be. That said I don't use mine that much, just personal wrenchin'

 

[Jaime]

Everytime I drain mine (every couple of months or so) about a 1/4 cup of rusty water shoots out. you think I'd learn by now...

 

[Durt D1ver]

throw the plastic tubing away. Use presto-lok fittings and 1/4" copper tubing.

I had already cut the copper and plumbed in a compression fitting, but I am using copper.

 

[robertf]

once a year, or right before I paint.

but I've got multiple outlets all with their own filters, and 2 inline right at the outlet of the tank.

Those are emptied when I can see something in them.