Air compressors are typically associated with commercial and industrial usage; indeed, they are commonly found in hospitals to power various equipment and on building sites to provide the force needed to power heavy duty equipment such as pneumatic drills. However, air compressors also have a wide range of uses in a home environment and should be considered by anyone with an interest in DIY.

While all air compressors essentially do the same job – sucking in air and compressing and pressurising it for kinetic energies – there are hundreds of different models on the market, all offering different features and specifications. Finding the right one for you in such a crowded market can be daunting, especially if you are a first time buyer. Nevertheless, you can make the process a lot easier for yourself by making a few basic considerations.

The first is quite obvious, but one that can be overlooked in the excitement of buying a new piece of equipment – do you actually need an air compressor? Air compressors in the home tend to be for serious DIY enthusiasts, so if you are just doing a quick weekend job then it might be worth borrowing tools or a compressor rather than making an investment. If you are serious about DIY however, then it is well worth looking into buying a compressor rather than other tools. Air tools provide more power than their electric counterparts and the lack of electric means you don’t risk any nasty shocks!

Once you’ve decided to buy a compressor, you need to consider what you are going to be using your compressor for. Typical household uses for air compressors include DIY tasks, tyre inflation, pressure cleaning and air brush painting. On the whole, most homes will only require a small compressor as most household DIY only requires one tool at a time and you will only be using a comparatively small volume of air.

The portability of smaller compressors also makes it advantageous for home usage, as you can move it to various locations around the house to complete your tasks. Smaller compressors also put less of strain on the electric supply of a home, meaning that you avoid any nasty surprises on your electric bill at the end of the month!

There are a couple of instances when larger compressors should be considered for the home. If you have a workshop, for example, you’ll be using the compressor on a regular basis and made need the kind of power only a larger model can provide. Similarly, if you work in your garage on painting projects quite a lot, such as spraying a car, you will need a compressor that can deliver a consistent sustained supply. If you do need a larger compressor, consider the space it will take up. Larger compressors generally aren’t portable and you’ll have to find a large space to house it in permanently.

Other considerations include choosing between oil and oil free models and the length of warranty you’ll require – the best bet for making these decisions to talk to your local specialist, who will be able to talk you through specific models based on your requirements. For general air compressor selection tips, however, you can’t go far wrong by sticking to those listed above.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Excel Compressors, specialists in portable air compressors

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Excel Compressors (http://www.excelcompressors.co.uk), specialists in portable air compressors

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Excel Compressors, specialists in portable air compressors

Category: Advice
Keywords: air compressors, home air compressors