Minimise leaks in your equipment

One of the most common causes of inefficiency is air leaks. When an air compressor hose leaks, the equipment uses up a lot more energy to pump out the same amount of compressed air. That can cost a lot of money.

Regular inspection of equipment can save money as it often leads to early detection of leaks.

According to the Carbon Trust, some compressed air systems lose up to 50% of their air through leaks.^[1] This is a significant cost. These leaks can occur in a number of places:

• hoses and couplings
• pipes and pipe joints
• pressure regulators
• valves that are left open
• improperly sealed threads

A technical service provider or EcoSmart Electrician with an ultrasonic leak detector can easily locate leaks in a compressed air system. This is a quick and efficient way to detect and fix leakages.

You can also walk around and check your system after-hours when it’s quiet. A large leak is obvious; you can often hear it. A low-tech ‘do-it-yourself’ way to check for leaks is to apply soapy water to the pipes and look for bubbles.